We, the undersigned, call on the University of Nottingham to reverse its plans to impose compulsory redundancies on its staff in the School of Chemistry.
We, the undersigned, call on the University of Nottingham to reverse its plans to impose compulsory redundancies on its staff in the School of Chemistry.
The University threatens to cut fourteen members of academic staff out of the forty-six currently in the School. On 12 May, thirty-one of those members of staff received letters notifying them that they were at risk of redundancy. These cuts target staff at multiple levels, but significantly impact colleagues in teaching roles – where their loss accounts for double the teaching capacity of research and teaching colleagues.
Additionally, there are proposed cuts to technical staff at all levels in research, teaching, and operations.
These proposals will cause long-lasting damage to the University of Nottingham. In particular:
The University of Nottingham branch of the University and College Union has proposed alternative measures to ensure the financial health of the University while avoiding the need for compulsory redundancies. We urge the University’s senior leadership team to work with them and create a more sustainable vision for Chemistry at Nottingham.
We invite signatures from academics, industry professionals, students, alumni, collaborators, and members of the broader Chemistry community beyond Nottingham. We are very grateful in advance for your responses.
| Name | Institution | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Roald Hoffmann FRS, Nobel Laureate Chemistry 1981 | Cornell University | |
| Sir Tim Hunt FMedSci FRS, Nobel Laureate Physiology or Medicine 2001 | The Francis Crick Institute, London | Please do not damage Chemistry |
| Prof. Kurt Wüthrich FRS, Nobel Laureate Chemistry 2002 | ETH Zurich, Switzerland | |
| Dr Venki Ramakrishnan OM FRS, Nobel Laureate Chemistry 2009 | MRC LAB OF MOL BIOLOGY (EMERITUS) | Chemistry is fundamental to many other areas of science including biology and medicine, material science, etc. For a modern economy, it is short sighted to cut one of the better departments of chemistry in the country. |
| Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov FRS, Nobel Laureate Physics 2010 | National University of Singapore | |
| Professor Carolyn Bertozzi ForMemRS, Nobel Laureate Chemistry 2022 | Stanford University and HHMI | |
| Professor Omar Yaghi, Nobel Laureate Chemistry 2025 | University of California, Berkeley | |
| Academician Yuri Tsolakovich Oganessian HonFRSC | Flerov Laboratory, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia | I hold the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in very high regard and consider it a great asset to global science. It was a great honour for me to visit Nottingham in March 2019 and to write my signature on Element 118 (which was named after me) on the periodic tables which now hang in the Nottingham chemistry lecture theatres. |
| Professor David Dolphin OC FRS | University of British Columbia | The chemistry department at the University of Nottingham, my alma mater, ranks amongst the top 100 universities in the world: Everything should be done to allow it to maintain, and even improve, on this outstanding reputation |
| Professor Varinder K. Aggarwal FRS | University of Bristol | Sir Jesse Boot would be appalled at what is happening at his beloved institution, which, with foresight, determination and support, he turned from a minor college into a world-class, research-intensive university. And now, the management of the university are set to reverse all those hard won gains. Pause and reconsider. |
| Professor James J Turner FRS | University of Nottingham | As an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, and a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, I will make one comment. Nottingham Chemistry can claim to enjoy a high reputation, both nationally and internationally, for its research and teaching. If the proposed cuts are carried out, they will lead, pretty quickly, to Chemistry being assessed as second-rate by everyone, everywhere. |
| Professor Claire Carmalt | University College London | I strongly support this petition. As external examiner for inorganic chemistry for the undegraduate programmes at Nottingham I am aware of the excellence in the department for teaching, the dedication of the staff and it is a highly regarded department for research. Any cuts would have a significant impact on the student experience and ability to excel with research. It is shocking to hear the news of the planned cuts at Nottingham |
| David K Smith | University of York | As the organic & biological chemistry external examiner for the undergraduate program in the Chemistry Department at University of Nottingham, I have seen first-hand the dedication of academic staff, the quality of the education they provide and the skill and enthusiasm of the students they teach. Cuts of 30% would make it impossible for the Department to deliver high-quality teaching and continue on its mission of groundbreaking innovative research. It is simple vandalism to think that such cuts could possibly be sustainable for a top-quality department. If the university press ahead with this course of action, it has committed itself to being a second rate UK chemistry departments, and it will no longer be possible to recruit or retain top-quality staff and students. |
| Steve Swallow - Principal Scientist | AstraZeneca | Nottingham University Chemistry department is one of the best in the country. We continue to have many productive collaborations with staff and students particularly through PhD and CDT programmes in areas relevant to progressing UK pharmaceutical discovery and manufacture. We recently selected Nottingham over other UK universities for continued sustainability CDT support because of their track record and desire to collaborate with industry in an appropriately targeted and meaningful way. We've recruited many exceptional chemists from Nottingham many of whom have gone on to leadership roles. The training and education they receive is excellent. In my view this change would be a disaster for UK academic chemistry and damage AstraZeneca's external Science and Technology programme. |
| Professor Sir Robin Grimes FRS, FREng | Imperial College London | Chemistry has been a key activity in Nottingham from its start. It is known throughout the world. Consequently, if taken forward this will very negatively impact the institutional reputation. This will include by potential overseas students. |
| Prof Enrico Coen FRS Member of US National Academy of Sciences | John Innes Centre | |
| Professor Robert Crabtree FRS | Yale University | |
| Prof David Leigh FRS, Royal Society Research Professor | University of Manchester | The key finding of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology assessment of "The Value of Public R&D", published on 30 October 2025, is that "on average, £1 of civil public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term." Sustained investment in science therefore matters, not simply as support for universities or laboratories, but as core economic policy: it helps turn ideas into high-value sectors such as life sciences, clean technology, AI and advanced manufacturing, raises the absorptive capacity of firms, and gives the UK a better chance of competing internationally in the industries that will drive future growth. It is therefore the wrong choice to cut key teaching, technical and academic staff in Chemistry at Nottingham, one of the strongest Chemistry Departments in the UK. These are the people responsible for educating and training the next generation of UK scientists who will deliver the skills, discoveries and industrial capacity on which those high-value sectors depend. Weakening this provision will undermine the very pipeline of talent and innovation that national policy says the UK urgently needs to strengthen. |
| Professor Robin Perutz FRS | University of York | If these redundancies go ahead, they will cause the university even more harm. The chemistry department has a record of outstanding achievement. Don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg. |
| Professor Jeremy Sanders CBE FRS | University of Cambridge | The proposal is cultural vandalism. The UK economy and research community need a vigorous and diverse chemistry community that provides new research and a skilled workforce. Nottingham Chemistry has a proud history of contributing and still has much to give if it is not cut down now. |
| Dame Mary Archer | Salters' Institute of Industrial Chemistry | The Salters' Institute greatly values its long partnership with the University's highly respected School of Chemistry, which has hosted many hundreds of school students at Salters' Festivals of Chemistry over the years. If the planned cuts to the School's academic and technical staff go ahead, not only will such outreach activities be threatened, but the strength of the School itself will be gravely damaged. |
| Professor Sir David Baulcombe FRS FMedSci FRSE(hon) NAS | Cambridge University | |
| Sir Peter Bruce FRS | University of Oxford | |
| Professor Geoff Cloke FRS | University of Sussex | |
| Sir Richard Catlow FRS | UCL and Cardiff | This is a shocking proposal. Nottingham Chemistry has a distinguished past and a dynamic present. It trains undergraduates in a discipline which is vital for future economic strength and resilience and its research is making key contributions to achieving a sustainable and low carbon future. These proposals will irreparably damage the School of Chemistry and must not be enacted. |
| Professor John P. Maier FRS | Emeritus, University of Basel, Switzerland | The Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham is first rate. Any reduction in the current staff is detrimental and would lead to loss the reputation of the University itself. |
| Professor Peter Sadler FRS | University of Warwick | The Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham has a world-leading reputation, and every possible effort should be made to preserve it. Chemistry is an essential discipline at any leading university worldwide. If this reputation is lost, the standing of the whole university will suffer. A strong Department of Chemistry will make a vital contribution to a strong and successful future for the University of Nottingham. |
| Dr Keith Layden FRSC | Croda International PLC | I had the honour of serving as Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board for the School of Chemistry from 2017 to 2025. During this period I experienced teaching and learning and research of the highest standard. I observed a highly motivated and committed workforce of academics and technical staff and enthused and motivated students who were proud to be associated with the School. Chemistry is an essential part of any University offering and chemistry of the world class standard provided at Nottingham should not be compromised. |
| Professor Atta-ur-Rahman FRS, Former President Pakistan Academy of Sciences and President Network of Academies of Science of Islamic Countries (NASIC) | International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan | Fully support the petition |
| Professor Steven Peter Armes FRS | University of Sheffield | The UK is sleepwalking to disaster regarding University funding. This huge problem is exacerbated by dreadful senior management at UK Universities. |
| Academician Jinghai Li FREng FRS | Professor, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Chemistry is a very strong School at Nottingham and its research is very important for ensuring a sustainable future for our planet. |
| Professor Graham Hutchings CBE FREng FRS | Cardiff University | |
| Professor Jonathan Ashmore FMedSci FRS | UCL | |
| Professor Sally Price FRS | UCL | This scale of cuts to the chemistry department will weaken the research pipeline in Nottingham chemistry and allied disciplines in a way that may be very difficult and expensive to recover from. Learn the lessons from other universities who have severely cut chemistry. |
| Prof Stephen Mann FRS | University of Bristol | |
| Sir Martyn Poliakoff FREng FRS Hon FRSC FIChemE | University of Nottingham | It is heart-breaking that the huge innovations in science and education that have been made by members of our School over a period of more than half a century are being threatened and potentially destroyed by administrators, recently arrived at our university, who fail to understand the significance of what our School has achieved. However, it is gratifying that this petition shows how highly scientists and engineers across the world recognize and value our achievements! |
| Professor Harry B. Gray FRS | California Institute of Technology | Energy, Environment, and Human Health are critical areas for chemistry research in the 21st century, Faculty members in chemistry at the University of Nottingham have made (and are making!) major contributions in these areas. We need Nottingham Chemistry! |
| Sir Alan Fersht FRS | University of Cambridge | |
| Professor Judith A K Howard CBE FRS | Durham University | This proposed action is unsuportable. Nottingham Chemistry is a key and historical Department in UK Science Departments. To do this , threatens critical and a wider essential science training in the UK and sees the UK losing skills fundamental to our economic recovery at a crucial time of political instability. |
| Professor Philip Bartlett FRS | University of Southampton | The proposed cuts will cause serious damage to the Department and to the University's reputation. |
| Professor Russell Morris FRS | University of St Andrews | Universities are communities built on the academic excellence and collegiality of their staff. Compulsory job losses such as those proposed risk not only damaging morale in the staff, but severely weaken institutional capacity and the quality of research and teaching. This harms not only Nottingham but the academic environment across the UK. I urge the institution to pursue meaningful consultation to find possible alternative courses of action. |
| Professor Laurence Barron FRS | University of Glasgow | The last thing the UK needs is to eviscerate a vibrant Chemistry Department like Nottingham generating world-leading research and a skilled workforce. |
| Professor Steven V. Ley CBE FMedSci FRS | University of Cambridge | |
| Professor Patrick Unwin FRS | University of Warwick | Chemistry is among the most strategically important subjects in universities, supporting medicine, pharmacy, engineering, biosciences, materials science, energy research, and industrial partnerships. The University of Nottingham should be looking at ways to strengthen and support its science base. The proposed cuts to staff in Chemistry and across the University of Nottingham are ill-thought and have been communicated very badly. The announcement, particularly at this point in the student recruitment cycle, has the potential to do lasting damage to the University's reputation. |
| Professor Odile EISENSTEIN FRS, Member of the French Academy of Science | CNRS and Univ Montpellier (France) | Don't Do it ! |
| Pierre BRAUNSTEIN, FRSC, Member of the French Academy of Sciences | CNRS-University of Strasbourg | |
| Janine Cossy, Member of the French Academy of Science | ESPCI Paris | |
| Bruno Chaudret, Member of the French Academy of Science | LPCNO INSA Toulouse Membre de l'Académie des Sciences | The future needs science, and chemistry in particular. The University of Nottingham has been a center of excellence and innovation in chemistry and technology for decades. It is imperative that it does not close. |
| Professor Jonathan D Jones FRS, NAS | Sainsbury Lab, Norwich | Chemistry is crucial for understanding properties of matter and for driving economic growth |
| Professor Mohamed Hag Ali Hassan FRS | Sudanese National Academy of Sciences | Nottingham chemists continue to make a real impact on chemistry in sub-Saharan Africa. This is important because this region is rapidly becoming a source of international students for the UK. |
| Professor Richard N Zare, FMRS | Stanford University | The future of the UK and the world depends on pushing forward the frontiers of scientific knowledge |
| Professor David M. J. Lilley FRS | University of Dundee | Chemistry if vital to the future of the UK, to our manufacturing and pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore the chemical sciences underpin other key academic and commercial areas including materials, life sciences and engineering. It is not good policy to reduce or close university chemistry departments, especially one as excellent as Nottingham University. |
| Professor Rosalind Rickaby OBE FRS | University of Oxford | |
| Professor Fraser Armstrong FRS | University of Oxford | The Chemistry Department of the University of Nottingham has several world renowned figures carrying out groundbreaking research. It would be detrimental to UKs international position to lose these scientists. |
| Professor John Pyle CBE FRS | University of Cambridge | |
| Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FRS | University of Cambridge | Chemistry is of vital importance to areas that include healthcare, energy and the environment. Chemistry at Nottingham has a marvellous history and has consistently been one of the leading chemistry Departments in the UK. The proposed cuts are drastic and will weaken the University of Nottingham and weaken Chemistry in the UK for the long term. I strongly urge a pause to reconsider this move and the associated implications. |
| Professor David Parker FRS | Hong Kong Baptist University and Durham University | Chemistry is the central science; putting the world-renowned Nottingham Chemistry Department at risk destabilises all of the scientific research and education Departments across the University. Think again; think ahead, do not be swayed by short term expediency. |
| Professor Sebsebe Demissew FRS | Addis Ababa University | it has been an honour for me to receive honorary doctorate degree from the Nottingham University and having long term collabration with the renowned and first class school of Chemistry. The School has been instrmental in advancing training and research in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia and Africa at large. it will be regretable to implement the proposed reorganisation to such globally acclaimed institution and ask for reconsideration. |
| Prof. Charlotte Williams FRS | University of Oxford | The Chemistry department at the University of Nottingham has pioneered and continues to set the agenda in Sustainable Chemistry and Green Chemistry, amongst its other vital discoveries, ideas and global impacts. Now, more than ever, we need departments such as Nottingham to maintain the highest standards in education and research in Chemistry. The UK Chemistry community relies on the success of its great universities, it's an eco-system and the damage caused by the proposals at Nottingham are a serious threat to the health and success of UK Chemistry. |
| Professor Nicola S Clayton FRS | University of Cambridge | |
| Professor Guy Lloyd-Jones FRS | University of Edinburgh | The proposed reorganisation of Chemistry at Nottingham is reckless and ill-informed. In the longer term, this will propagate into much wider negative outcomes for physical and medical sciences at Nottingham University, with net financial costs that far outweigh any immediate savings (for the numerous reasons outlined by many others in this petition). I urge the administration to reconsider their plans and seek a viable and less destructive solution, and one that will ultimately be more productive. |
| Professor Andy Cooper FRS | University of Liverpool | I fear that these proposals would do irreparable damage. This looks less like reshaping and more like condemning. As a former undergraduate and postgraduate student at this excellent department, I'd urge the senior management at University of Nottingham to think long term and look for an alternative plan. I'd be happy to join an external advisory panel to seek other solutions. |
| Professor Anne Dell CBE FRS FMedSci FAA | Imperial College | It beggars belief that cuts of this magnitude are being contemplated for such an important discipline. |
| Prof Andrew J. Orr-Ewing FRS | University of Bristol | |
| Professor Paul Attfield FRS | University of Edinburgh | |
| Professor Herbert Huppert Sc. D., FRSN, FRS | Cambridge University | Universities in general and chemistry in particular, such as researched at Nottingham, can bring an enormous amount to money into the UK, as well as much helping a variety of industries. Forcing chemistry in universities to decline, as is threatened at Nottingham, is a total and stupid own goal. Let the UK, and Nottingham in particular, shine out and show the world how capable and money attracting we can be. |
| Prof SJ Blakemore FBA FMedSci FRS | University of Cambridge | I fully support this letter. |
| Emeritus Professor Peter Liss, CBE, FRS | University of East Anglia | |
| Prof Sheila Rowan CBE, FRS, FRSE | University of Glasgow | |
| Professor Michael Edgeworth McIntyre FRS | University of Cambridge | |
| Professor Richard Evershed FRS | University of Bristol | A familiar example of ill-advised capital expansions impacting on researchers and educators undertaking work vital to the institution's national and international standing, and underpinning the UK economy. I assume the University of Nottingham's higher management realises that cutting core research in any business ultimately leads to its long-term decline. |
| Professor Nicholas Turner FRS | University of Manchester | |
| Professor Dame Julia S. Higgins FRS | Imperial College London | Chemistry in Nottingham U has a very strong reputation which will be irreparably damaged by these staff cuts |
| Professor Tom Simpson FRS, FRSE, FRSC | University of Bristol | Another dreadful example of mismanagement of some, thankfully not all, Universities. Nottingham has long been one of our best Chemistry teaching and research departments, outstanding international reputation with notably strong industrial links. A lovely campus and great staff, ideal location in the centre of England - how has the "mangement" managed to get in such a mess? |
| Professor Mike Ashfold FRS | University of Bristol | |
| Professor David Phillips FRS CBE, Former President Royal Society of Chemistry (2010-2012) | Imperial College London | The proposal to diminish the highly successful Chemistry Department in Nottingham is utterly unacceptable to the Chemistry community in the UK and worldwide. The administration should be warned that such actions in the past in other universities in the UK led to financially crippling harm to the whole academic community such that every one of them has eventually reversed their decision. Chemistry occupies a key position in the sciences and the University will find that weakening its impact will rebound immensely to Nottingham’s disadvantage. |
| Sir David Clary FRS | University of Oxford | I don't believe this! Nottingham has one of the best chemistry departments in the UK. |
| Sir John Skehel FRS | Crick Institute | Chemistry is centrally important for understanding in all science disciplines taught and researched in universities. It should not be downgraded at Nottingham University. |
| Professor Andrew Goodwin FRS | University of Oxford | |
| Professor Peter Hore FRS | Oxford Univesity | Not for nothing is Chemistry known as the “Central Science”. Damage Chemistry at Nottingham and you will damage research and teaching in Physics, Materials, Biology and Medicine. Your ability to attract first class academics and students will suffer across the board. Don’t do this. |
| Professor Peter P Edwards FRS, ML, MAE | Oxford University | The UK, once seen as one of Europe's formidable chemicals manufacturing powerhouse, is at risk of completely degrading its capacity - indeed any capacity - to produce "Foundational Chemicals" - substances that are critical in the national production of fertilisers, defence - critical materials and of course, pharmaceuticals. As Sir Jim Ratcliffe has noted- this is an example of "the deindustrialisation of the UK". If recent global events show us anything, its the simple, potent fact- and it is a fact - that we cannot rely on overseas supply chains. If the UK is to have such a critical chemical sector, as well as attacking high energy costs (some of the highest across the world) it must also have the required bedrock training, expertise and innovation that can only come about from a strong university-based community of skilled chemists - perfectly tuned to the needs of modern multidisciplinary science and technology. These attributes will manifest into - and form the basis of- the absolutely essential industrial capability, intellectual property and expertise in a rapidly - changing national and global scenarios. The University of Nottingham's Chemistry Department is world-renowned - a foundational hub that is recognised both for scientific innovation and outstanding scientists. Of course, one recognises that Chemistry is an expensive Course to teach and - unfortunately- often a target for universities to close departments. But this puts at risk any policy - yes, any policy- that sees Britain less reliant on the importation of so many strategically- important goods. Are we as a country comfortable with importing so many critical products? Surely not. The Nottingham Chemistry Department has world-class strengths in both the pure and the applied 'arms' of the modern multidisciplinary subject - strengths that are absolutely critical for a country that will rely increasingly on the great expertise and innovation in a rapidly changing global market. In that context, I would respectfully ask the university to carefully consider what you have at Nottingham in a subject - and an industry- that is absolutely critical for the country |
| Dr. John M. Brown, FRS | Chemistry and Wadham College, Oxford | University finance may be driven by the pressure of short term considerations; sustaining high academic reputations for their departments and institutions depends far more on long term strategies and insights. Nottingham has a deserved reputation as one of the very best universities in the UK and it's Chemistry Department is internationally renowned -why on earth put that at severe risk?? |
| Henry Snaith FRS | University of Oxford | Chemistry, alongside the other sciences, underpins the modern world and will continue to define how we deal with global challenges and prosper in the future. Both direct research outputs from, and education of the next generation of scientists in Universities, is essential to enable a sustainable future. As a leading UK Chemistry Department I implore you to do everything you can to sustain the level of staffing required to both deliver an exemplary undergraduate education and also a globally competitive research environment. |
| Professor Gerry Pattenden, FRS | Nottingham University | The Jesse Boot Chair in Chemistry at Nottingham was named in honour of Jesse Boot, founder of Boots the Chemists, in the early twentieth century. I had the honour of holding this prestigious chair over the period 1988-2005. I was also Pro Vice Chancellor for Research during 1997-2003, under Vice Chancellor Colin Campbell. Campbell was an inspirational leader and manager with enormous energy and great vision, who established the international reputation enjoyed by Nottingham University. Witnessing the homemade problems of the present management of the University,, and the proposals for the future of the School of Chemistry depress me enormously. No doubt the late Jesse Boot and Colin Campbell will be turning in their graves, with similar sadness, anger and bewilderment. I urge the University to rethink their priorities and do everything possible to maintain the status and international reputation of Chemistry in Nottingham, established over more than a century. |
| Caroline Dean FRS | John Innes Centre | |
| Dek Woolfson FRS | Universities of Bristol and Copenhagen | Chemistry is an essential science that underpins many other disciplines. It would be a disaster with much wider implications if key UK chemistry departments were to close or shrink to sizes that cannot offer a thorough education and training in such a central discipline. For these reasons and many more, leading UK universities like Nottingham must ensure that chemistry survives and flourishes despite these challenging times. |
| Professor Lesley Yellowlees CBE FRSE HonFRSC, Former President Royal Society of Chemistry (2012-2014) | Retired | |
| Sir John Holman, Former President Royal Society of Chemistry (2016-2018) | University of York | |
| Professor Gill Reid CBE, FRSE, FRSC, former President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2022-24) | University of Southampton | Nottingham Chemistry is renowned for its world-leading research and teaching in Chemistry. I urge the university management to rethink this decision, which would destroy the School and have long-lasting consequences. |
| Prof. Dudley E. Shallcross OBE | University of Bristol | Investment in UK research and development multiplies significantly (about a factor of 8 see Prof. David Leigh FRS' comment) and Chemistry is an area where growth in jobs in the future are predicted to rise well above (30%) the national average see https://www.rsc.org/policy-and-campaigning/discovery-and-innovation/future-workforce-and-educational-pathways. Therefore, Chemistry should be supported not diminished. Nottingham has been one of the leading Chemistry departments for research and teaching in the UK and on the world stage for a very long time and given rise to numerous life changing discoveries from Ibruprofen to current work on sustainable agrochemical production. I urge the University to pause and reconsider their options, once lost it will be very hard to restore (as seen elsewhere). |
| Professor Geoffrey Maitland CBE FREng | Imperial College London | These proposed cuts are short-sighted and will do irreparable damage Nottingham's excellent Chemistry Department at a time when the need for more chemists and innovative chemistry research to address the challenges facing the world is greater than ever. |
| Professor Stephen Eichhorn FREng FRSC ACSF | University of Bristol | |
| Tony Taylor BSc FRSC CChem CertEd | Crawford Scientific | |
| Professor Mary Garson AM FAA FRSC FRACI, President International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (2026-2027) | The University of Queensland, Australia | I am shocked to read of the proposed cuts to the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, widely recognised as one of the very best worldwide. The school currently has the highest quality teaching and research staff ably supported by skilled professional staff and any significant reduction in their numbers would make it impossible to deliver a world class program for both undergraduates and postgraduates, impacting on the global ranking in a damaging manner. It is unthinkable that the university could dismantle one of the strongest chemistry schools in the UK. I urge you to listen to the passionate voices of your staff and students, and all those from around the world who have signed this petition. |
| Ehud Keinan, President of the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (2024-2025) | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology | Humanity faces six major global challenges and threats that jeopardize our existence: 1) energy sources, 2) dwindling raw materials, 3) water security and scarcity, 4) air quality and climate change, 5) food security, and 6) health challenges. History has shown that solutions often arise from unexpected technological advancements. While we cannot predict what these future technologies will be, we do know that chemistry will be fundamental to all of them. Chemistry is omnipresent because all sciences deal with matter, and every material is composed of atoms and molecules. Understanding any system, whether living or non-living, involves exploring the journey from the individual components to the whole, from molecules to complex systems. This principle also applies to the design and construction of new systems. Often referred to as the "central science," chemistry significantly influences other scientific fields, including technology and industry. Therefore, it is likely that any future technology developed to address these six challenges will rely heavily on chemistry, as they are fundamentally chemical problems. Consequently, closing a chemistry department—particularly a prosperous and reputable one—should be viewed as a serious misjudgment against humanity. |
| Javier Garcia Martinez, President International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry 2022-23 | University of Alicante | I am deeply shocked to learn of the proposed redundancies in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. This decision would have a profoundly negative impact on a department of exceptional quality, international prestige, and long-standing scientific importance. I have known of the work carried out in this department for decades, and I have had the privilege of interacting with some of its researchers, many of whom are leading scientists in their fields. The School of Chemistry has built a reputation through years of outstanding teaching, world-class research, and the dedication of highly skilled academic and technical staff. These roles are not simply "jobs" that can be removed without consequence; they are essential to the department's intellectual strength, educational mission, research capacity, and international standing. Reducing staff on this scale would be disastrous. It would damage the quality of teaching, weaken the student experience, undermine research excellence, and harm the reputation of the University of Nottingham far beyond the School of Chemistry itself. The loss of experienced academics, technical experts, and researchers would not be easily repaired. Once such expertise and institutional knowledge are lost, rebuilding them can take many years, if it is possible at all. Chemistry is central to addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing society, including sustainable energy, health, materials, manufacturing, and the environment. A department with Nottingham's history and calibre should be protected and strengthened, not diminished. I find it extremely disappointing that a better alternative has not been found. I urge the University to reconsider this decision, engage constructively with staff and their representatives, and seek a solution that preserves the quality, prestige, and future of this outstanding department. |
| Professor Christopher Brett, President of the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (2020-2021), | University of Coimbra, Portugal | Chemistry is the central science and thus of immense strategic importance. It gives crucial support to research in energy, environment, and health, to engineering and technology as well as medicine, materials science. Sustainable development needs chemistry. The School of Chemistry in Nottingham University has built up the highest international prestige and is a worldwide reference in the chemical sciences, that would clearly be adversely affected by the proposed cuts. Their scale would negatively impact undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as research and would also mean the loss of highly qualified professional staff. Teaching and research in the School of Chemistry is not confined to the chemistry community but also in the scientific community and society in general, through its many outreach activities. I urge to you listen to all who have signed this petition from all around the world. |
| Jan Reedijk, Chair IUPAC committee ratifying the naming of new elements, 2014-2018; Co-chair Management Committee, International Year of the Periodic Table 2019 | Leiden University | Chemistry is an essential discipline at any leading university worldwide. Energy, environment, materials and human health research cannot flourish without a strong department of dhemistry. The chemistry department at the University of Nottingham, has been in the top 100 universities in the world for several years. It is shocking to learn of the intended redundancies in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. Such a decision would seriously damage its international prestige and scientific importance and must not be executed. For a modern economy, it is short-sighted to cut one of the leading UK departments of chemistry. Reducing staff on the mentioned scale would be disastrous. Once such expertise is seriously cut and lost, rebuilding them can take many decades. A department with such a reputation and high caliber should rather be protected and treasured! I trust everything will be done to allow to protect the outstanding reputation of Chemistry within Nottingham University |
| Professor Natalia P. Tarasova, President of the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (2016-2017), HonFRSC, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences | D.Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia | |
| Dr. Igor Lacik, President of the IUPAC Polymer Division (2024-2027) | Polymer Insitute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava | |
| Professor Clay S. Bennett, Immediate Past Chair American Chemical Society Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Chemical Glycobiology | Tufts University | Chemistry is the central science, to weaken it is to weaken the entire scientific enterprise. |
| Emeritus Prof Hemda Garelick, FRSC, Member of IUPAC Executive Board (2023-2025), President of IUPAC Division of Chemistry and the Environment (2020-2022) | Middlesex University, | |
| Joseph S. Francisco | Chair, Board of Directors, American Association for the Advancement of Science | |
| Nigist Asfaw, HonFRSC, UoN Honorary Doctorate 2023 | Addis Ababa University | |
| Professor Rebecca Goss FRSE, FRSC | University of St Andrews | Chemistry knowledge impacts the generation of an average of £83bn annually for the UK economy (RSC report 2025) Chemistry at Nottingham has always been seen as a flagship department, driving forward pioneering and impactful research particularly in drug discovery and sustainability. Cuts to this department are unthinkable, they would have considerable negative impact upon its internationally recognised teaching and research. In 2010 the RSC commissioned a report that revealed that 21% GDP was based on the chemical /chemical engineering industry, this has fallen as has the UK’s share of global GDP. Investment in and promotion of chemistry in the UK and the chemical industry is even more essential than ever. |
| Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dehnen FRSC, Immediate Past President of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), Editor-in-Chief Inorganic Chemistry (ACS) | Karlsruhe Institute of Nanotechnology | Good luck! |
| Prof. Jeremy Shears FRSC, FRSB, FRAS | University of Manchester, Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence | This move, if enacted, will destroy so much value and cause irreversible harm |
| Prof. Cynthia Nkolika Ibeto FRSC | University of Nigeria Nsukka | |
| Professor James Wilton-Ely FRSC FSA | Imperial College London | I fully support this statement - Nottingham's Chemistry Department has an international reputation and a fantastic Carbon Neutral Research Laboratory, but most of all it is the staff at Nottingham that are the foundations for its continued success. Redundancies will not only compromise the world-class research and teaching but they will undermine morale and be self-defeating. It sends the signal that the University does not value the huge role that the Chemistry Department plays in its global reputation and rankings. On a financial level, it will impact the recruitment of future students and undermine the University's ability to raise revenue from fees. Weakening Nottingham Chemistry will impact many other Departments, undermine high-profile cross-institutional activities and cause lasting damage that cannot be repaired. |
| Dr Nathan Brown FRSA FRSB FRSC | Croftware | The proposed redundancies within the Chemistry Department at the University of Nottingham are deeply concerning and risk causing lasting damage to one of the UK’s important centres for chemical science research and education. Chemistry underpins advances across medicine, energy, materials science, sustainability, and manufacturing, while also training the next generation of scientists who will drive innovation and economic growth. Reducing academic capacity in this area threatens not only current staff and students, but also the broader scientific ecosystem and the UK’s long-term competitiveness. Universities should be investing in scientific talent, research excellence, and education - not diminishing them through short-sighted cuts. I strongly urge the University of Nottingham to reconsider these proposed redundancies and work collaboratively with staff and stakeholders to identify alternative solutions that protect both people and the future strength of chemistry at the institution. |
| Professor Pat Guiry MRIA FRSC, Immediate Past President of the Royal Irish Academy | University College Dublin | Since 2018, we have a very fruitful joint Centre for Doctoral Training with the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham where I have seen, first hand, the excellence of the staff, students and facilities. The proposed cut to staff numbers is horrifying and I would ask the University Management to reverse its proposal as it would kill one of the UK's leading Schools of Chemistry in the short term. The School's focus on Sustainability and Green Chemistry could not be more timely. A weakened School of Chemistry ultimately weakens the whole University. There is still time to reconsider and please do. |
| Professor Ari Koskinen, FRSC, Member of the Finnish Academy of Sciences | Aalto University | |
| FRSC Mihkel Koel | Tallinn University of Technology | It is very short-sighted to cut the education of chemists and reduce support for science It will pay pack very-very badly. |
| Professor Paul R Raithby, FRSC, EurASc | University of Bath | The Department of Chemistry at Nottingham has long been at the forefront of research and teaching within the UK, and has maintained an outstanding international reputation. The Department continues to lead the UK's contribution in several research fields including sustainable and environmental chemistry with the enormous societal and economic importance that these areas now have. The academic and technical staff are among the best in the UK, with the proven ability to deliver outstanding science. To cut the staff would have a catastrophic effect not only on the Department, but on the University, the local and national community, and ultimately the productivity of the UK and its international reputation. |
| Professor Mark Murrie FRSC | University of Glasgow | Undermining a department with a longstanding reputation for excellence in both teaching and research is absurd. Reducing academic and technical staff numbers inevitably diminishes the quality of the student experience, limits access to specialist expertise and weakens the collaborative environment that is essential for modern chemical research. Such cuts also threaten the department’s ability to attract top students, secure research funding, and maintain its international standing. At a time when chemistry is central to addressing global challenges disinvesting in this area sends the wrong message about the university’s priorities and its commitment to scientific innovation and education. I urge the university to reconsider. |
| Prof. Eddie Cussen FRSC | Technological University Dublin | |
| Liane Rossi, FRSC | University of São Paulo | |
| Dr James Bruce FRSC | The Open University | |
| Professor Constantinos Theodoropoulos, FRSC | University of Manchester | |
| John TS Irvine CBE, FRSE, FRSC | University of St Andrews | Chemistry is core to UK futures, Nottingham is central to UK Chemistry |
| Tanja van Mourik, FRSC, CChem | University of St Andrews | |
| Krishna Kumar, FRSC | Tufts University | Science in general is under attack and we must do everything to preserve Nottingham Chemistry which has a tremendous history. |
| Professor Bruce Turnbull CChem FRSC | University of Leeds | |
| Dr Kirsty Clode FRSC | Retired | I have had the privilege of being involved with the Chemistry department at Nottingham since 1983 – starting as an undergraduate, then as a PhD student. I continued to be involved with the team there during my time in industry as I felt it was important to show the students what fabulous opportunities a Chemistry education at Nottingham can give you. In the last few years I have continued to support the team at Nottingham as part of the Industry Advisory Board and EDI Committee. Throughout all these years I have always been impressed with the passion and dedication of the whole department. They have worked really hard to build and deliver world class teaching and research capability that our world needs. I think the proposals will mean that the Chemistry department will struggle to maintain its world leading teaching and research capability. |
| Prof. Dr. Wolfram Koch, FRSC, President Elect EuChemS, past Treasurer (2022-25) of IUPAC, Executive Director (2002-24), German Chemical Society (GDCh) | European Chemical Society | |
| Ulrike Diebold, wm ÖAW, ML, FRSC, FAAAS | TU Wien | |
| Prof. Alan Williams, FRSC | University of Geneva | Closure of a world class chemistry department will of course save expenditure, but the savings will be diminished by a drop in research grants and student fees. More importantly, it will result in the writing off of the very considerable capital investment that has allowed the creation of an outstanding department. |
| Professor Peter Sarre, FRSC FRAS | University of Nottingham | It is devastating that a university which has grown hugely in reputation, size and global impact is now being directed into a future which is likely to be mediocre at best. While the climate for the university sector in the UK is certainly challenging, vision is needed which fully embraces the immense talents of academic, administrative and technical staff. It is hard to imagine how such vision can materialise from the current proposals and how the School of Chemistry would recover from the reputational damage resulting from the proposed cuts. |
| Prof. David Winkler FRACI, FAFMC, FFACS | Monash University | |
| Vincent Nyamori | University of KwaZulu-Natal | The Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham has a world-leading reputation; thus, every possible effort should be made not only to preserve it but also to foster its continued existence, including that of staff members. I have had the privilege to meet Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff, a world-renowned pioneer in Green Chemistry from the University of Nottingham. Professor Poliakoff and his team have undertaken many wonderful initiatives, including personal advocacy, institutional collaboration, and science diplomacy, which have helped transform and embed sustainable practices across African education, industry, and chemical research. It is through the leadership of Prof Poliakoff that we realised the birth of the Federation of African Societies of Chemistry (FASC) and the Pan-African Green Chemistry Congress (PACN), both of which bring together scientists across the African continent. There has also been direct research and resource sharing from the University of Nottingham and African Universities. For example, in malaria research, their expertise in developing cleaner supercritical fluids that extract oils from Artemisia plant species for use in antimalarial drugs. Collaborations with the Department of Chemistry have provided a diplomatic platform to advocate strongly for international funding and resource allocation toward African scientific infrastructure. In short, apart from the exciting and wonderful initiative for Africa, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham also serves as a critical hub of world-class scientific research, regional economic development, and historical educational prestige. I end with an East African Swahili saying “Usikate mti uliojiandaa kukupa kivuli” (translation: “Do not cut down the tree that is prepared to give you shade”). |
| Dr Barbara Villa Marcos | University of Nottingham | |
| Mei Yao Young | University of Nottingham | |
| Tirtha Raj Acharya | University of Nottingham | |
| Kristaps Ermanis | University of Nottingham | |
| Oliver Mead | University of Nottingham | |
| Izzy Wood | University of Nottingham | |
| Joseph Heeley | University of Nottingham | The School of Chemistry is recognised globally for its excellent teaching. These cuts will significantly impact this and surely cause longer term issues for recruiting international students |
| Samantha Tang | University of Nottingham | In less than 20 years we have gone from being ranked the 2nd best Chemistry department in the UK to what is essentially a managed decline and deconstruction of a founding subject. These cuts are ludicrous and financial savings can and should be made elsewhere. |
| Rabi Chhantyal Pun | University of Nottingham | |
| Francesco Piga | University of Nottingham | |
| Matthew Cliffe | University of Cambridge | |
| Liam Ball | University of Bristol | |
| Dr Jonathan Moore | University of Nottingham | |
| Ishbel Cooke | University of Nottingham | |
| Patrick Robertson | University of Nottingham | |
| James Bennett | University of Nottingham | The proposed cuts will not have the desired effect of saving the university money. They will destroy our reputation and ranking and reduce the number of high tariff student applications. |
| Lucy Tomczyk | University of Nottingham | |
| Rachel Moore | Nottingham University | |
| Dr. Morgan Reynolds-Green | University of Nottingham | |
| Steven Howdle | Retired | Chemistry students need sensible numbers of highly qualified academics- these proposals cut far too deep. |
| Ellie Webb | University of Edinburgh | |
| Alexander Uner | University of Nottingham | |
| Andres Gomez Angel | Pharmaron UK | |
| Charlotte Mcivor | University of Nottingham | |
| Amrit Gill | University of Nottingham | |
| Jack Wootton | Newcastle University | |
| Miriam O'Duill | University of Nottingham | |
| Bruna Falgueras Vallbona | University of Nottingham | |
| Sudheesh Sivanandan | University of Nottingham | |
| James Dowden | University of Nottingham | |
| Hannah Poulton-Haselier | University of Nottingham | |
| Michael Clarke | University of Nottingham | |
| Jason McNulty | University of St Andrews | The proposed cuts would decimate any functioning department and would likely severely impact quality of teaching leading to issues with student recruitment in the future |
| Dr Brian Chalmers | University of St Andrews | The proposed cut of 30% of staff is ludicrous. How does Nottingham intend to keep the same quality of award-winning teaching and innovation by slashing staff numbers, and with it, slashing the staff morale for those who remain. Teaching and pedagogy should be at the core of the institution, and certainly not the first place to make cuts and savings. |
| Jessica Sellar | University of Nottingham | |
| Lucy Quayle | University of Nottingham | |
| Stephen Otieno | University of Nottingham | |
| Jessica Streets | University of Nottingham | |
| David Rogers | University of Nottingham | |
| Sotiria Kogou | Nottingham Trent University | We are the university! |
| Xue-zhong Sun | University of Nottingham | The achievements of the School of Chemistry today are the result of the efforts of several generations, but a single wrong decision can destroy those efforts in an instant. |
| Rhoda Phillips | University of Nottingham | |
| Peter Harvey | University of Nottingham | |
| Martyna Ostrowska | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Thomas Stanton | Loughborough University | |
| Georgia Schneider | TWI Ltd | |
| Dr L Scott Blankenship | University of Nottingham | Management clearly wants to destroy something beautiful. I started here in 2012 and did my undergrad, MSc, and PhD here, and now work here. It is a supportive and sustainable academic community. They want it gone. I'm only here for another three months, but will fight these savage cuts every day I am here and beyond. |
| Jack Smithson | University of Nottingham | |
| Madasamy Thangamuthu | University of Nottingham | |
| Louis Buck | University of Nottingham | |
| Oscar Siles Brügge | University of Nottingham | There has been no modelling of how any of these proposals will achieve any of the stated goals, and anyone with an understanding of how university rankings work can see that this will only lead to a decline across the board. |
| Andrew Nortcliffe | University of Nottingham | The proposed staff cuts in Nottingham will devastate teaching and research in the department. This will destroy our ability to recruit high-quality students at any level. We need these staff to ensure that all operations in our School deliver for students. |
| Neil Oldham | University of Nottingham | Not only are the proposed redundancies a personal disaster for many of the individuals involved, but they also run the risk of making it impossible for retained staff to conduct teaching and research in chemistry. More widely, the introduction of yet another layer of bureaucracy (College-School-Department) sitting above the actual delivery of the subject will introduce unnecessary duplication of activities, costing more staff time. The whole Future Nottingham project is poorly thought out, has been pushed through without proper scrutiny, and is based on very questionable data. |
| Letizia Liiro Peluso | University of Nottingham | |
| Ben Owen | University of Nottingham | |
| Nicholas Mitchell | University of Nottingham | |
| Katherine Jolley | University of Nottingham | |
| Neave White | Northumbria University Newcastle | Life sciences funding is being cut across the board in the name of 'cost cutting'. All of these subjects lead the way in pioneering areas of drug discovery, novel materials synthesis and analysis of pollution just to name a few. Cutting access to life sciences down skills future generations and limits access too sciences ability to generate novel breakthroughs. |
| Melissa White | University of Nottingham | |
| Marie Kowalski | University of Nottingham | |
| Simon Woods | University of Nottingham | |
| Samuel O'Thomson | Autifony | While the university sector as whole is struggling currently, Nottingham stands head and shoulders below the rest through financial mismanagement. However, I doubt the people responsible will be the ones to bear the cost of this. Rather they look to cut the people teaching their students in a move that can only be seen as reprehensible and cowardly. |
| Ben Pointer-Gleadhill | University of Nottingham | |
| Andreas Weilhard | University of Nottingham | |
| Philippa Jacob | University of Nottingham | |
| Mia Bennett | University of Nottingham | |
| Jack Phelps | Newcastle University | |
| Olivia Munns | University of Bristol | |
| David Mills | University of Manchester | |
| Ross Amory | University of Nottingham | |
| Kuba Lemanski | University of Nottingham | |
| Fabrizio Ortu | University of Leicester | |
| Jon Kragskow | University of Bath | |
| J Earp | University of Nottingham | |
| Andrew Greener | Loughborough University | Cutting academic staff to save money in the short term would only exacerbate the financial problems for the university in the long term, fuelling the further decline of the department and entering a death spiral of fewer staff, causing less research and teaching, so less funding, so less staff. |
| Graham Leggett | University of Sheffield | It is tragic to see a department that has had such a long and illustrious track record being dismantled in this way. |
| Craig Campbell | University of Oxford | The national impact of these planned redundancies will severely impact the student experience, particularly losing the Royal Society Award-winning teaching team, who have forged many important industrial links, enhancing the student practical experience tremendously. The teaching laboratory team in particular continue to lead national discourse on many aspects of chemistry course delivery that maximises the student experience, and this will be a tremendous loss if the proposal for redundancy |
| Rob Messias | University of Oxford | |
| Dr Yolanda Sanchez Vicente | Northumbria University | For the Future of Chemistry |
| Dr Charlotte Clark | University of Nottingham | |
| Jie Ke | University of Nottingham | |
| Jonathan Hunter | Fibre Extrusion Technology | |
| David Cole-Hamilton | University of St Andrews | Having been involved in a Review of the Chemistry Department at Nottingham University a few years ago, I was stunned to find that this excellent department should be under threat. There are many world leading scientists there and the teaching is first class. The proposed cuts will lead to a deterioration in all aspects of the Department's important and world leading work. I urge you to reconsider this highly flawed plan. |
| Dylan P. Williams | University of Birmingham | |
| Abraham López | GSK | |
| Shannon Casey | University of Nottingham | |
| Adshayen Suthasan | Cranfield University | I sign this petition to support the school of chemistry and other departments' opposition to staff redundancies. |
| Dr Stuart Smith | Durham University | |
| Nathan Brown | Optibrium | |
| Martin Black | University of Nottingham | |
| Natalie Cozier | Cozy Bricks Innovations | I was deeply troubled to hear that the University of Nottingham's Chemistry Department is facing such significant threats. The department is internationally respected, home to world-leading researchers, staff and renowned for the outstanding quality of its teaching and scientific contributions. These proposed cuts could seriously undermine the department's reputation, research capacity, and educational opportunities for students. I strongly encourage the University to reconsider these proposals carefully and to explore every possible avenue to protect a department that represents excellence in innovation, teaching and research. |
| Dr Louis Morrill | University of Bath | The School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham is one of the strongest in the UK - it must be protected! |
| Lydia Barnes | University of Warwick | |
| Andres Tretiakov CSci CChem | St Paul's School | I'm appalled by this news. I fully support the technical staff at the University. They are the lifeline of the Chemistry department. No technical staff, means no experimental science, no research, no innovation and most important no inspiration for the next generations. |
| Gary Boulton | Plantsbrook School | |
| Max Kennedy | Imperial College London | |
| Katherine Inzani | University of Nottingham | |
| Jasper Fairchild | UCL | I have very fond memories of my time at UoN and am sad to see a large amount of quality staff are at risk of redundancy. These cuts seem too deep and look like they will cause even more decline in the long term. 😓 |
| Molly Rose Bartlett | Nottingham Alumni | Save our chemistry department! |
| Christopher Moody | University of Nottingham Emeritus | |
| Jaffer Zaidi | University of Sydney | |
| Daniel Edward Smith | LiNa Energy | The University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry and the staff of which it comprises must be protected. The SoC continually demonstrates its value to the University, the city of Nottingham, and the international community of chemistry researchers. The combination of teaching and the specific research undertaken at the SoC is irreplaceable. I implore the University of Nottingham's executive branch to consider alternative options. |
| Hetty Walker | University of Bristol | |
| Anna Kirkham | University of Lancashire | |
| Jacob Brownlee | University of Birmingham / ISIS | |
| Paige Burton | University of Nottingham | |
| Paul Roach | Loughborough University | |
| Tina Caunt | University of Nottingham | |
| Barry Teobald | Biotech Research | Utterly shameful. As many have already said, Chemistry lies at the heart of combating our major global challenges such as climate change and fighting deadly disease. In addition, a Chemistry degree/PhD is a highly respected qualification that teaches skills applicable to a broad range of career paths, not just within science. Nottingham has always had a highly regarded, world class Chemistry department. How can the UK even begin to stand tall in the world and lead against countries like China with decimating cuts like this? We should be investing in science and technology, not cutting it. |
| Ana Aguiar Ricardo | NOVA School of Science and Technology | I strongly support this petition. I carried out my postdoctoral research in 1995 at the School of Chemistry of the University of Nottingham, and that experience was transformative for my scientific career and for the way I understand and approach science. It is deeply concerning to see such an internationally respected department at risk through cuts of this magnitude. Protecting institutions like this is essential not only for current staff and students, but also for future generations of scientists. |
| Marysia Tarnowska | Teesside University | |
| Theo Smith | University of Nottingham | |
| Vincenzo Taresco | University of Nottingham | |
| Isabelle Marriott | University of Nottingham | |
| Laura Finney | University of Nottingham (School of Chemistry Alumnus) | |
| Elliott Gill | University of Nottingham - Chemistry Undergrad | |
| Stanley Galloway | University of Nottingham | |
| Daniel Hutchinson | University of Nottingham | |
| Daniel Galano | University of Manchester | Having completed my undergraduate degree here, I am shocked and saddened to find this department under threat - my current occupation as a PhD student and subsequent research output would not have been possible without the School of Chemistry and its staff, from the academics to the technicians. Putting emotions aside, the proposed cuts seem based on shoddy data at best and do not seem to grasp the long term damage of crippling the department's research output and ability to teach for short term financial saving. |
| Chao-Jun Li | McGill University | I am shocked by this proposal to a prominent department globally. |
| Aaron Campbell | Newcastle University | |
| Xavier Lacey | University of Nottingham | |
| Timothy Noel | University of Amsterdam | Universities are the engine of the economy. So do not reduce the staff at Nottingham Chemistry! |
| India Gosai | University of Nottingham | |
| Natasha Ansarian | University of Nottingham | |
| Hanno Kossen | Newcastle University | Nottingham Chemistry is renowned for it's innovation in teaching and scholarship. Cuts to its ability to deliver excellence in teaching does not only harm the university, but also the entire chemistry education sector. |
| Hon Wai Lam | University of Nottingham | Absolutely heartbreaking |
| Charlotte Witts | University of Nottingham | |
| Joshua Lai | University of York | |
| Charlotte Stevenson | University of Nottingham | |
| Amy Stimpson | University of Nottingham | |
| Heidi Vollmer-Snarr | Yale University | |
| Isobel Shoffren | University of Strathclyde | |
| Jasmin Ly | University of Nottingham | |
| Olivia Churchill | University of Manchester | |
| Joe Anderson | Pharmaron UK | |
| Zacharias Amara | Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers France | |
| Connor Yap | University of Nottingham Alumnus | |
| Dr Ryan Dempsey | University of Manchester | |
| Altin Mele | University of Tirana | Does Royal Chemical Society have a stand on this action?? |
| Abbie Wilson | University of Nottingham | |
| Haydon Ross | University of Nottingham | |
| Ben Millwater | University of Nottingham | |
| Luisa Ciano | University of Nottingham | |
| Elliot Dandy-Minto | University of Nottingham Undergraduate in Chemistry | People have put years of hard work and dedication into helping and improving the school of chemistry. Their knowledge and careers, and their skills are valuable and difficult to replace. Do not let such talented people suffer because of mistakes that the University did. |
| Declan Meehan | University of Nottingham | |
| Jessica Milani | University of York Alumni | |
| Jesum Alves Fernandes | University of Nottingham | |
| Rossana Wright | University of Nottingham | |
| Anabel Lanterna | University of Nottingham | |
| Julie Watts | University of Nottingham (Associate) | These potentual changes will decimate the school of chemistry, and lower the standing of the university in the UK and beyond |
| Polina Abramchuk | University of Nottingham | |
| Daniel Bratton | Cytiva | |
| Dr Efstratios Asimellis | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Postdoctoral Researcher | |
| Thomas Ronson | University of York alumnus | |
| Caitlin Loughman | University of Nottingham | |
| Sophie Craddock | University of Nottingham | |
| Daphne Pangilinan | University of Nottingham | |
| Megan Bearcroft | Biosciences | |
| Oliver Cullen | UoN Chemistry | This will eviscerate the legacy of every great chemist and every discovery made here. To consider such damage to this institution is tantamount to sabotage. The people at risk of being made redundant are some of the very heart and soul of this department, and have been a part of the reason I came to Nottingham in the first place |
| Shiya Jin | University of Nottingham | |
| Shayantan Chaudhuri | University of Warwick | The proposed cuts will have significant negative impact on the University of Nottingham's reputation, research and teaching quality, and ability to recruit top students, in both the short- and long-term |
| Ruby Reynell | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Kateryna Heynderickx | Former Student at UoN Chemistry | |
| Sophie Shearlaw | Chemistry | |
| Darren W | University of Manchester | |
| Oluwajuwon Okunade | University of Glasgow | |
| James O'Brien | University of Manchester | |
| James B | University of Nottingham | |
| Ashleigh Beal | University of Nottingham | |
| Qiao Cao | University of Bath | |
| Ashley Wooles | University of Manchester | |
| Amy Naylor | The University of Nottingham | |
| Katie Alexander | University of St Andrews | |
| Sally Thornton | Hearing Sciences | |
| Emily A | UON School of Chemistry | |
| Terrence J. Collins | Carnegie Mellon University | Yes, Chemistry Departments are expensive, technician-intensive, energy-intensive enterprises and therefore especially vulnerable in spreadsheet-driven restructuring exercises despite their profound strategic importance. As a result, they can appear to financially pressured decision makers as attractive pressure-relief valves for stemming the flow of red ink without full appreciation of what may ultimately be lost. The irony is that institutions thereby risk weakening exactly the foundational scientific capacity upon which long-term innovation ecosystems, advanced manufacturing, health technologies, environmental stewardship, and future economic resilience depend. I know Peter Licence, your Head of School of Chemistry, well and hold him in the highest regard as a thoughtful and courageous leader for sustainability in an unsustainable world. Listen to him carefully. |
| Jiyan Mandrup | Astex | |
| Evan Shelton | University of Nottingham | |
| Ronan Ozdural | University of Nottingham | |
| Jessica Salamone | University of Bath | |
| Dr Kane Bastick | Asymchem Ltd | Threats to cut any and all UK chemistry departments in academia are an existential threat to generate and retain talent for the future of the UK chemical research and manufacturing industries. |
| Jonathan Ong | University of Nottingham | |
| Ayushi S | University of Nottingham | |
| Alex Edmonds | University of Nottingham | |
| Jaime Crossley | Newcastle University | |
| Madeleine Cheung | University of Nottingham | |
| Jennifer Unsworth | HGF Limited | This is very disappointing. As a graduate of UON, I am appalled. |
| Giorgio M | University of Nottingham | |
| Zichen (Derek) Zhang | University of Nottingham | Chemists help the university and society advance. How ironic is a plan titled with 'future' deciding to discard advancing forces. |
| Connor Bergin | The University of Nottingham | |
| Leanne Fisher | University of Nottingham | |
| Sandy Kilpatrick | University of Leicester | Having just concluded a gruelling period of collective consultation at UoL Chemistry, I'm sending sympathy, strength and solidarity up to road to colleagues at UoN! |
| Matt Allison | Chemify Ltd. | This proposal is ludicrous and destructive of everything that makes the university that I trained at so great |
| Laura Sandford | Ex Student | As an ex-student, I benefitted from the excellent teaching, research and support staff. Without all of these team members, I would not have received such an excellent education. These cuts will be to the detriment of future students and will severely impact their learning. |
| Maria Roumpou | Foundation for Research and Technology | |
| Gerard Parkin | Columbia University | Nottingham Chemistry has always had a great reputation. The department has also had much impact on the community at large via the Periodic Table of the Videos, which has received worldwide acclaim. The proposed reduction in staff is very poorly grounded and there must be other means that would not be so destructive in reducing the workforce. |
| Eleni Frussu | Greek Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities | |
| June McCombie | University of Nottingham (Honorary Fellow) | The impact on support for both students and the School's research profile will be extreme. |
| Fatumata Jalloh | University of Nottingham School of Chemistry | |
| Lingqiao W | Beijing University of Technology | |
| Rita Upmacis | Pace University, New York, U.S. | I received my undergraduate and my PhD from Nottingham University and am strongly opposed to the proposed cuts to department of chemistry that has a well-known global reputation. The department has received a lot of acclaim from the periodicvideos.com educational website which popularizes chemistry that I have used in my teaching in the U.S. The loss of academics and staff from the chemistry department will greatly affect the university's standing. An alternative, much less drastic, approach should be considered. |
| Lifeng Ding | Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University | |
| Joseph Wright | University of Nottingham | |
| SIHAI YANG | Peking University | School of Chemistry is a world leading organisation for excellent teaching and research in the world! |
| Chuang Gao | AstraZeneca | Got loads of support from the research staffs when I was doing my PhD here. It is a shame to see the uni struggles like this. |
| Yong Yan | South China Normal University | I spent eight wonderful years in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham – four as a PhD student (with the prestigious overseas scholarship) and four as a postdoc (2007–2015). It is truly heartbreaking to see the University now imposing compulsory redundancies on its chemistry staff. Without the dedication and expertise of these remarkable colleagues, Nottingham risks a sharp decline in international student applications – which would, in turn, inflict lasting damage on the School of Chemistry and the University as a whole. |
| Emilie Wheatley | University of Nottingham | |
| James Metcalf | Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung | |
| Xue Han | University of Manchester | |
| Michele Formica | J&J | I did my undergrad (MSci) at the school of chemistry from 2012-2016. Wonderful times and a great course. Would be a shame for others not to experience it... |
| Tara Lambert | University of Antwerp | |
| Jeffrey Hannam | University of Edinburgh | |
| Paul Cullis | University of Leicester | |
| David Harding | Suranaree University of Technology | I am stunned that Nottingham is thinking of closing the department. Thailand has many alumni from the University, and the Periodic Videos are often mentioned as something that attracted them to chemistry. The current financial problems seem to have been caused by poor management decisions and it strikes me as incredibly unfair that Chemistry should bear the brunt of this downsizing, simply because it is an expensive subject to teach. |
| Richard Bourne | University of Leeds | Shocked and disappointed to hear about the planned cuts at Nottingham chemistry |
| Anna Slater | University of Liverpool | |
| Martin Sims | n/a | |
| Toby Maccormack | University of Nottingham | |
| Paul Kruger | University of Canterbury Ao/NZ | Simply unfathomable the scale of proposed cuts at one of the leading Chemistry departments in the world! |
| Barbara Ciani | University of Sheffield | I was at Nottingham Chemistry as postdoc. Don't give up. This strategy is misguided, damaging students and the country. There is always an alternative, they only need to have the willingness to find it together. |
| Dr Paul Stanley | UoN | Used to be a great institution. Top for research. These decisions will not help the school to return to greatness. |
| Erica Hanson | University of Nottingham | |
| Sofia Olendraru | University of Edinburgh | |
| Yu Chen | Langfang Normal University | |
| Helen Sneddon | University of York | |
| Thorri Gunnlaugsson | Trinity College Dublin | |
| Byron Oputa | University of Strasbourg | |
| Ross Forgan | University of Glasgow | |
| James Herron | Murphy and Son | |
| James Stewart-Moreno | University of Oxford | |
| Chloe Spencer | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr. Mehmet Süzen | Assia, Cyprus | Chemistry is one of the fundamental sciences underpinning national infrastructure. As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies emerge alongside pressing energy challenges, preserving and increasing investment in academic chemistry is imperative. Chemistry plays a pivotal role as the foundation for both quantum computing and advanced AI applications. Given this strategic importance, the University of Nottingham must secure long-term funding from UK government initiatives focused on AI, 'AI for Science,' and quantum technologies specifically for the School of Chemistry. |
| Xianjin Cui | Nanodot Limited | The university of nottingham is built on the strength of its faculty and professors, not its excutives. |
| Prof Joe Harrity | The University of Sheffield | Taking this action against one of the premier chemistry departments in the UK can only do reputational damage to the University of Nottingham, as well as further eroding the UKs reputation for carrying out globally competitive research. Reconsider! |
| Helena Amos | University of Manchester, Nottingham alumni | |
| Kevin Morgan | Queen's University Belfast | |
| Dr. Dukula De Alwis Jayasinghe | University of Manchester | |
| Jawwad Darr | UCL (EX Nottingham pdra 1996 to 1999) | |
| Georgia Stevens | Nottingham Uni | |
| Tom Pike | University of Nottingham | Chemistry at the University of Nottingham can be seen as a test case for the wider impacts of the UEB's Future Nottingham 2 goal of worsening SSR university-wide. Between ~2019 and ~2023 Chemistry dropped 45+ places in the Guardian's University Guide, tracking the increase in the size of undergraduate cohorts from historic levels of ~170 to 220+, directly impacting SSR. Recovery has been slow, but in 2026 rankings had risen again by 25+ from this low point as the tail of the larger cohorts graduated and SSR recovered. Should UEB carry through with the unnecessary and brutal cuts across the whole University, Chemistry and the wider University of Nottingham will plunge down the rankings, leading to devastating drops in recruitment nationally and internationally. |
| Elliot | Francis Crick Institute | |
| Jixin Yang | Wrexham University | I am deeply shocked and concerned with this university proposal to launch a massive cut in the academic staff members at School of Chemistry. Having been studying my PhD and doing my postdoc there for 10 years, I am fully aware how wonderful the School is with so many passionate and capable educators and researchers. It is hard to imagine the negative impact of this move to the future of School of Chemistry in terms of institutional reputation and ranking, student recruitment (quality of home students and number of international students), research funding (particularly REF) and of course staff and student morale. If the university thinks this proposal is to save the School of Chemistry, I will argue it is self-destructive or even suicidal. A much more sensible and sustainable alternative approach should be seriously considered. |
| Jeremiah Tidey | University of Warwick | It seems plain to anybody that the current efforts and present proposal are simply a death sentence to the school and university, borne as a response to wild mismanagement of resources across a challenging period for the sector. It is clearly not a sensible solution to turning things around. As an alumnus of the school and collaborator to a number of staff, it pains me greatly to see such a failing. I implore you to consider the alternative plan before your final disembowling of our beloved institute. |
| Ben He | Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Science | |
| Paweł Borowiecki | Warsaw University of Technology | Throwing highly qualified scientific personnel out onto the street is a waste of money! It's like spending years training F-16 fighter jet pilots only to force them to move to commercial airlines. |
| CYRUS SEBASTIAN SHARMA | University of Nottingham | |
| Jiawei Wang | Swansea University | |
| Peter Aitken | University of Oxford | |
| Lynn Kamerlin | Georgia Institute of Technology | |
| Enrico Falcone | LCC-CNRS, Toulouse (France) | |
| Daniela Plana | Keele University | |
| Dr Katherine Shaw | Reckitt | It is truly disheartening to see the university and School of Chemistry - which was flourishing when I left a decade ago - crumble through mismanagement, with the hardworking and dedicated staff on the ground taking the brunt, rather than those who made this happen. These redundancies would do a disservice to the brilliant staff, and to the students who deserve a high-quality education, and leave the university as a shadow of what it once was. |
| Laura B | University of Nottingham | |
| Paul Walton | University of York | |
| Patrick McFall | University of Nottingham | |
| Mia Hesford | University of Nottingham | |
| Lauren Mullin | Liverpool John Moores University | |
| Vladimir Popov | UoN Emeritus | |
| Liam Cribbin | Trinity College Dublin | |
| Rachel Chan | Runshaw College | A terrible decision for an amazing department who contribute so much to the university as a whole and the chemistry department more specifically who contribute so much to the subject. |
| Iain Robertson | Swansea University | |
| Anaïs Pitto-Barry | Université Paris-Saclay | |
| Andrew Marriott | Almac Pharma Services | Having interviewed many prospective industrial placement students from UoN Chemistry it baffles me how cutting almost a third of staff can be anything but severely detrimental to the standing of the department and to its student experience. These proposals seem poorly thought through regarding the mid to long term impact on the department and must be reassessed remembering that UoN Chemistry is, first and foremost, a proud and highly-regarded academic institution. |
| Adam Knirsch | University of Cambridge | |
| Martin Jones | University of Cambridge (alumnus) | Chemistry might be an expensive subject to teach and research, but it underpins much of the UK Life Sciences sector activities. At Nottingham in particular the technician staffs' contributions are invaluable and not to be underestimated. |
| Laia Vila-Nadal | University of Glasgow | Are you nuts? This is one of the most prominent chemistry schools in England. Chemistry at the University of Nottingham has trained and hosted generations of scientists and produced world-leading research for decades. So many excellent chemists have come through there. Closing or weakening departments like this is not just a Nottingham problem; it is part of a wider dismantling of UK science and higher education. We cannot keep pretending this is normal. Please reconsider and support the future of chemistry at Nottingham. Science in the UK is already struggling enough. |
| Ken McGrath | Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry | I am a retired chemist having worked in the UK power industry and in the Hong Kong power industry. Total working for 51 years. These industries were extremely reliant on stringently applied chemical controls monitored by well qualified chemists. The UK Government are progressing build of new nuclear power stations and qualified chemists will be key members of staff up to management level. It is essential, in my view, that universities continue to produce well educated chemists with analytical skills and a talent for investigating problems affecting the sustained lifetime of the power plant. |
| Sharon Clancy | University of Nottingham | |
| Peter Knipe | Queens University Belfast | |
| Lydia Ward | Nottingham Alumni | |
| Ariadne Smith | University of Nottingham | |
| Buxing Han | Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Chemistry is very important and I express my strongest support. |
| James Nicholas | University of Barcelona | |
| Callum Hind | University of Nottingham | The proposed cuts will decimate both the teaching and research reputation of the school. As a PGR, my research relies directly on the stellar efforts, specialised technical expertise, and dedication of staff who are now at risk. The university cannot maintain its 'research-intensive' status while cutting the very people who make the science possible. Management needs to find another way forward. |
| Vinesh Patel | ProPharma | |
| Sruthi Nambiar | University of Nottingham | |
| Joshua Barham | University of Strathclyde | |
| Tyla Pugh | Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Discovery | |
| Paul Anastas | Yale University | Nottingham Chemistry is an international gem in service to science and the well-being of the world! |
| Berkeley W. Cue, Jr., PhD | BWC Pharma Consulting LLC | The chemistry program at Nottingham has been one of the most effective institutions supporting the advancement of green and sustainable chemistry for more than a quarter of a century. Such an asset to our global society must continue as it is, without any modifications. |
| Craig Stoppiello | The University of Queensland | UoN's SoC has a long, proud history of internationally recognised success; protecting the people, expertise, and collaborative culture behind this is essential. This scientific excellence is also central to Nottingham's reputation as a leading city for research, innovation, and education. |
| Andrew McCluskey | University of Bristol | |
| Anna Nandhakumar | University of Cambridge | |
| Weize Wu | Beijing University of Chemical Technology | |
| Yucui Hou | Taiyuan Normal University | |
| Emmett Oliver | N/a | As a alumni of Nottingham Chemistry Department, they are all amazing people who all contribute towards this amazing Department. |
| Stepan Denisov | The University of Manchester | |
| Aisha Bismillah | King's College London | |
| Alexandre Zagoskin | Loughborough University | |
| Zhuxian Yang | University of Exeter | |
| Emily Chau | University of Nottingham Alumni | |
| Georgia Sullivan | The University of Nottingham | |
| Eleanor Winch | University of Loughborough | |
| Brigitte Nerlich | University of Nottingham | I am not a chemist. I am a social scientist/linguist, now emerita. For a long time I interacted with people in chemistry interested in public engagement and I learned a lot. It was fun meeting people like Prof Sir Martyn Poliakoff, film maker Ben Haran and public engagement specialist Samantha Tang and I greatly admired The Periodic Table of Videos which has a huge international reputation. What is the university doing??? |
| Núria Queralt Rosinach | Leiden University Medical Center | |
| Peta Prokopiou | Ricardo | I would not be where I am without the support of the academics of the Chemistry department University of Nottingham. Losing these staff is a blow to the students, the School of Chemistry and the reputation of the University. |
| Catherine Heron | Nottingham | |
| Ellen Bradley | University of Manchester | |
| Stephen M Cohen | Independent Scholar | I spent a year doing postgraduate research at Nottingham. This slicing off of research ability now is ridiculous. |
| Stuart McHale | University of York | |
| Matthew Evans | University of Cambridge | |
| Yonas Chebude | Addis Ababa University | |
| Dane Wallace | University College Dublin | |
| Joris van Slageren | University of Stuttgart | |
| Prof. Matthew Wingate | University of Cambridge | |
| Manon Lachmann | University of Leicester | |
| Charlotte Hancox | University of Oxford | |
| Carmen Barker-Benavides | Lancaster University | |
| Walter Leitner | Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion | Chemistry is an essential science and technology for the future. The School of Chemistry at Nottingham is leading nationally and an international power house. It is an investment, not a cost, for UoN to maintain the strongest possible School of Chemistry! |
| Sweta Ladwa | University of Greenwich | |
| Gareth Cave | Nottingham Trent University | I stand with the supportive chemistry community across Nottingham and East Midlands. Cutting Chemistry staff directly undermines the UoN-NTU sustainability CDT that empower eco-conscious graduates to safeguard our planet's resources. Reverse the redundancies. |
| Richard Hopkinson | University of Leicester | Short-sighted decision just copying others. All savings can be made through natural thinning of the workforce due to retirements and resignations. Also think about reducing executive pay as execs do not deliver the core business of a university. |
| Charlotte Hudson | University of Nottingham | |
| Istemi Kuzu | Philipps Universität Marburg | |
| Eleni Aikaterini | National Bank | |
| Carl Poree | University of Manchester | |
| Bilal Khan | The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, AJK, Pakistan | Chemistry remains a foundation of innovation, healthcare, energy, sustainability, and industry. Reducing academic capacity risks weakening the research, teaching, and scientific training that future generations depend on. Strong chemistry departments are investments in society's future. |
| Susan Vanderplas | University of Nebraska Lincoln | Coming from a university and department that were recently eliminated, it is a messy process that never works out to produce the savings anticipated. This hurts students, remaining faculty, and the institution as a whole. |
| Ashish Arora | Duke University | |
| Richard Newbold | The Skinners' School | As a secondary school Chemistry teacher I can state that The Periodic Table of Videos by Nottingham University Chemistry Department has probably done more to raise the profile of the university to school children than anything else. Chemistry Department staff should not be penalised for unwise projects by those running Nottingham University into catastrophic debt. |
| Stuart Taylor | Cardiff University | |
| Stefan Bon | The University of Warwick | Implementing such drastic job cuts among the frontline staff, who together with the students are the true heart of the institution, demonstrates a severe disconnect and delusion within senior management. |
| Dr Thomas McCorvie | Newcastle University | It is shocking that with all these issues with HE in the UK that it is not a focus of the current government (nor the past governments). The proposed redundancies of many colleagues at Nottingham University will further weaken HE and UK's global position as beacon of scientific discovery and innovation. |
| Santiago Martin Solans | University of Zaragoza (Spain) | |
| Dr. Robert Hein | University of Münster | |
| Zhimin Liu | University of Nottingham | |
| Francesco Naccarato | Université Catholique de Louvain alumni | |
| Ross Denton | University of Nottingham | |
| Max Attwood | Imperial | Save staff, stick to the mission, and help ensure that future students have the best opportunities. |
| Michael Neidig | University of Oxford | |
| Dr. Eleni Venardou | Boehringer Ingelheim Hellas Single Member S.A. | Please do not bring forward the plan of redundancies in subjects and departments with low staff-to-student ratios, including physics, medicine and health sciences. |
| Dr Michael O'Neill | University of Liverpool | The scale of these proposals raises big logistical questions about delivering Nottingham's excellent Chemistry degrees safely and effectively, particularly in lab practicals and project work. I urge the University's leadership to reconsider these cuts. |
| Soumen Ghosh | University of Nottingham | |
| Jack Green | University of Liverpool | |
| Eloise Cole | University of York | |
| Magdalene Chong | University of Strathclyde | |
| Peter Hoare | Newcastle University | Appalling decision. Good luck to you and your colleagues. Sadly most University senior administrators are not good at "strategic planning". I'll bet none of the senior leaders or administrators have received any of these redundancy risk letters? |
| Chao Zhang | Uppsala University | The news comes as a big shock. I fully support fellow chemists at UON! |
| Marko Stamenić | University of Belgrade | |
| Prof. Josh Worch | Virginia Tech (USA) | |
| Jamie Gould | University College London | |
| Lincoln Geraghty | University of Portsmouth | |
| Mark Goddard | Nottingham | |
| Fabio Parmeggiani | Politecnico di Milano | |
| Owen Liggins | Reckitt | |
| Helen Allan | UCL | I did my undergraduate and PhD at Nottingham and strongly believe that it should be protected. A huge amount of amazing research comes from Nottingham. |
| Louis M | University of Nottingham | |
| Sudeshna Roy | University of Leeds | |
| Alexander Novitskiy | Nova Biochem | This must stop. |
| George Williams | University of Southampton | |
| David Amabilino | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas | The School of Chemistry in Nottingham has been a leader and innovator since is inception. In both research and teaching it has people of the highest quality, leaders in their areas. With the world leading Carbon Neutral Laboratories and groundbreaking research in many areas, the proposed measures would stifle the creativity and quality of research and teaching. |
| Prof. Christopher Conselice | University of Manchester | |
| Jenny Eyley | University of Leeds | |
| Martin King | University of Cambridge | |
| Dr Sebastian W Rieger | University of Oxford | |
| Angela A | UON grad | Save chemistry! |
| Becky Greenaway | Imperial College London | |
| Thomas Dixon | Leeds universit | |
| Francesca Paradisi | University of Bern | |
| Emily Allen | University of Oxford | |
| Philip Jamieson | University College Dublin | |
| Christopher Rayner | University of Leeds | Extremely disturbing news regarding one of our nationally and internationally leading chemistry departments. This is not right. |
| Ainsley McIntosh | University of Aberdeen | |
| Mahek Srivastava | Imperial College London | I am signing this to support the academic staff at University of Nottingham |
| Simon Gerrard | Imperial College London | This poorly judged decision will impact significantly on students and their experience, research capability and international impact, staff and the wider university environment (including major impact on invaluable teaching-focussed staff and the whole educational community), and hit hard on the University of Nottingham's reputation and ability to attract students and funding! |
| Benoit Couturaud | Université Paris Est Créteil | |
| Andrea Laybourn | University of Leeds | |
| Sohil Solanki | Barclays Bank PLC | The education I have received from the school of chemistry has shaped the person and professional I am today. I wouldn’t want to deprive the future generations of receiving the education and mentorship I have received which has made me the person I am today |
| Fabio Ghiotto | SaaS work | |
| Rose McCarthy | University of Leeds | |
| Anthony Jones | University of Nottingham | |
| Sanna Pampel | University of Nottingham | |
| Stephen Harman | University of Nottingham | |
| Richard Layfield | University of Sussex | Good luck with the campaign |
| Austin Punnoose | Imperial College | Teaching and technical expertise are fundamental to delivering high quality university education. |
| Chris Hawes | Keele University | |
| Qinan Gao | University of Nottingham (School of Chemistry Alumna) | |
| Callum Hill | JCH Industrial Ecology Ltd | It is about time that universities started respecting their academics. If you want to save money, get rid of the overpaid management. |
| Emily Dixon | University of Nottingham | |
| Andy Grierson | University of Sheffield | Another case of financial mismanagement in the University sector. |
| Dr Matthew Lloyd | University of Bath | |
| Valeria Burianova | University of Glasgow | |
| Prof Alex Cowan | University of Liverpool | |
| Matthew O Kitching | Durham University | |
| Dr Tom Hasell | University of Liverpool | |
| Prof Marina Kuimova | Imperial College London | As an Nottingham Chemistry PhD alumnus, I am very saddened by these proposals of redundancies, which will be felt not only across Nottingham but across chemistry landscape of the country as a whole. Alternative financial solutions should be considered. |
| Dr Dominic Willcox | Heriot-Watt University | |
| Mason Ormsby | University of Nottingham | |
| Peter Portius | University of Birmingham | |
| Emeritus Professor John Seddon | Imperial College London | It would be a massive mistake to go ahead with these cuts. |
| Yannis spyridakis MSc | Queen Mary University of London | |
| Keya Shah | University of nottingham | |
| Felice Torrisi | Imperial College London | |
| Sophie Guillemot | University of Manchester | |
| Natacha Veerapen | Imperial College London | Students, academics and supporting staff paying the price for mistakes made by management is not the way forward! |
| Adam Lee | A*STAR | |
| Gianluca Sergi | University of Nottingham | In solidarity with our colleagues in Chemistry, from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities (where 44% of jobs will be lost) |
| Andrea Sella | UCL | This is a textbook example of managers who can price everything and know the value of nothing. A disgrace. |
| Dr Jake Williams | University of Nottingham Alumni | I've always been very proud to say that I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham, the teaching and the staff were fantastic and set me up for my PhD research and industrial working. I know it's not just Nottingham going through struggles but given how much impact the university has in the wider UK industry, it seems dramatically short sighted to be making these cuts. I hope everyone at risk can find other opportunities. |
| Tim Wright (Emeritus Professor) | University of Nottingham | As in many institutions, senior management continue to make decisions that compound the harm done by their own earlier, ill-informed poor financial decisions. In many cases, they would do better to consider their own positions, and allow *active* academics to input greater into how best the university should be run, alongside advice from unions. |
| Sidarth Surya | University of Manchester | |
| Dr Kirk Malone | Britest Limited | Chemistry underpins the modern world. To even consider such cuts is lunacy. |
| Gwyndaf A. Oliver | University of Vienna | |
| John E. Moses | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | |
| James Crowley | University of Otago | |
| Andrew Jones | University of Canterbury | |
| Thomas Sloan | UCL | The Nottingham Chemistry department is a centre for high quality research that does credit to the university both nationally and internationally. Cost cutting in such an important department, and in a subject with the capacity to produce world changing technology, feels short-sighted in the extreme. |
| Daniel Russell | Freeths LLP | Do not cut these staff. I attended and benefited from this incredible institution when studying for my chemistry masters |
| Thomas Ball | University of Liverpool | These plans are unbelievably short-sighted. For a University with such a rich history in Chemistry and a School with strong current research and teaching outputs, it is unthinkable that cuts are being put forward. Instead of threatening staff with redundancies, they should be thanking them for the prestige the School of Chemistry brings to the University. |
| Gabriella Holland | University of York | |
| Andrei Zaitsev | University of Liverpool | |
| Fen Tin He | University of Nottingham (School of Chemistry Alumni) | |
| Michail Angelos | Agricultural University of Athens | |
| Tapio Ala-Nissila | Loughborough and Aalto University | That N’ham plans to cripple some of its best and internationally known physical sciences departments is just…unbelievable. |
| Romi Aggarwal | University of Liverpool | Great department, great chemistry |
| Stephen Bourne | Former student | As a former Chemistry student at the University of Nottingham, it’s deeply upsetting to see the continued erosion of scientific departments and the uncertainty facing staff and students. My time there was shaped by passionate lecturers, strong practical teaching, and a genuine sense of academic community. Once lost, it would take decades to rebuild. |
| Anthony Haynes | University of Sheffield | Having done my PhD in Chemistry at Nottingham, I’m appalled by the proposed cuts to academic staff which can only damage the reputation of the University. |
| Chiara Gattinoni | King’s College London | |
| Emmett Oliver | UoN Alumni | As a alumni of Nottingham Chemistry Department, they are all amazing people who all contribute towards this amazing Department. |
| Prof Gabriel Siles-Brügge FAcSS | University of Bristol | |
| Prof. Julia Weinstein | University of Sheffield | As a former postdoc and then a lecturer at the School of Chemistry at Nottingham, I find it extremely concerning that the School of such high reputation in research and teaching, built by generations of talented and dedicated scientists, is under threat. The consequences of the proposed cuts will be felt across the chemistry landscape nationally and internationally, and across all disciplines, and will affect the University's reputation. Please reconsider. |
| Caleb Doyle | University of Oxford | The proposal for redundancies at the School of Chemistry is dangerously short-sighted. While it may address immediate budget deficits, it actively sabotages Nottingham's long-term ability to compete as a top-tier school and institution. Teaching quality, academic reputation, and access to research funding are interwoven and all threatened by this decision. |
| Dr Justine Blackwell | Pharmaron UK (Nottingham school of chem alumni) | Keeping the staff in the school of chemistry is of the utmost importance to ensure it is still a competitive and excellent centre of learning |
| Soumalya Bhattacharyya | University of Oxford | |
| Charlie Swan | University of Nottingham Alumni | It is shambolic that a once groundbreaking chemistry department should have to face cuts and redundancies of this magnitude. Particularly as a result of financial mismanagement and overstretching by decision makers well outside of the school of chemistry. Having studied/worked there between 2014-2024, I can testify that the school provides excellent quality research, and fantastic teaching - offering opportunities to a diverse range of students in a department steeped in history. Threats to cut staff from the department have already irreparably besmirched the University’s reputation, but going through with said cuts will truly be a shameful and cowardly act, given the necessity of the sciences and the University’s prior reputations in these areas. |
| Hiroshi Naka | Kyoto University | Nottingham Chemistry is highly influential worldwide. I strongly support this petition. |
| Brandon Rotavera | University of Georgia | |
| Dr Emmanouil Markakis | Robert Bosch | Please reverse the decision |
| Alice Cockcroft | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Louise Walport | Imperial College London | |
| Matt Edwards | Vertex Pharmaceuticals | |
| Prof. Mark Crimmin | Imperial College London | |
| Reuben Carr | NCIMB Ltd | |
| Meaza Girma | MG Hygiene Food safety consultancy company | |
| Sinanoglou | Charalampos | The Science of Chemistry is very important to explain everything happened. Please respect to the Science of Chemistry. |
| Barrault Joel | FCS -Ind.Cons. Sustainable Chemistry | The proposed budget cuts will be extremely detrimental to Nottingham University, particularly to its highly ranked and internationally renowned chemistry department. This situation should raise serious questions for the scientific community in general, regardless of the country involved: are we in France immune to such budget cuts and reorganization ? |
| C. Oliver Kappe | University of Graz | |
| Harry Hawksworth | UoY Department of chemistry | |
| Paul Lickiss | Imperial College London | |
| Joe Morris | University of Liverpool | |
| Dr Christof Jaeger, MRSC | AstraZeneca AB | Good luck in preventing this suicidal move; so many careers and so important research at stake |
| Jon Wilden | University of Sussex | |
| Iarina Sava | University of Nottingham | |
| Joshua Leeson | University of Nottingham | |
| Simon Collinson | The Open University | |
| Eli Zysman-Colman | University of St Andrews | |
| Fraser | University of Liverpool | |
| Wojciech Kopec | Queen Mary University of London | Unbelievable |
| David O'Hagan | University of St Andrews | |
| William Sharratt | University of Liverpool | |
| Alex Ganose | Imperial College London | |
| Dr Oliver P. E. Townrow | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany | |
| Antcham Alexandros Imprachim | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | |
| Jake Walder | University of York | |
| Professor John Spencer | University of Sussex | Don't give up on so much innovation. BOOTS, Nottingham BioCity, Sygnature, Reach Separations etc. You're giving up a legacy. |
| Megan Radford | University of Liverpool | |
| Hazel Cox | University of Sussex | Compulsory redundancies would be a very short-sighted decision that risks weakening a discipline central to the UK economy and future innovation. The University of Nottingham’s chemistry department has an excellent international reputation for both teaching and research, and plays an important role in training the next generation of scientists, teachers, and researchers. The Royal Society of Chemistry estimates that chemistry-using sectors contribute around £83 billion annually to UK GDP. Reducing academic capacity through compulsory redundancies risks weakening both Nottingham’s longstanding strengths and the UK’s long-term scientific and economic competitiveness. Save Nottingham Chemistry! |
| Nick Wigdahl | Pharmagro Ltd | My niece Elisa Wigdahl studied at Nottingham and the degree set her very well. And as a supposed science powerhouse, the UK cannot afford to shut yet more research. |
| Meera Mehta | University of Oxford | |
| Daniel Baggs | University of Nottingham | |
| Saskia O'Sullivan | University of Oxford | |
| Harry Taylor | University of Nottingham | |
| Joseph Paul-Taylor | University of Sussex | |
| Andrew Smith | University of St Andrews | |
| Mike Wood | PharmiWeb | The UK needs to invest in sciences! |
| Tony Cass | Imperial College London | Chemistry is the 'Central Science' for a very good reason, as a discipline it connects with physics and biology and is foundational for science and engineering subjects from Astrobiology to Zoonotic diseases. Drastic cuts as proposed not only seriously impact on chemistry but also significantly weaken many other STEM subjects. Senior management at Nottinghamm must reconsider and find a better way. |
| Saad Sher Dil Khan | University of Nottingham | There are better and other ways to cut costs. This is a disastrous route to go into. |
| Dr. Ross Adams | Princeton University | |
| Professor Joshua Edel | Imperial College London | |
| Dale Williams | University of Nottingham | |
| Chi Yang Cheng | Science and Technology Facilities Council | |
| Dr Cate Cropper | University of Liverpool | |
| Fabrice Gallou | Novartis | UoN has been a landmark in many areas of life science for decades, influencing and leading the whole scientific and industry community, by educating many generations. Hopefully future talents will continue coming out of the institution. |
| Hannah Hurst | University of Cambridge | |
| E. Carolina Sañudo | Universitat de Barcelona | |
| Jack Hughes | University of Edinburgh | |
| Jie An | China Agricultural University | As a PhD alumnus of the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry, I am deeply concerned by the proposed staff cuts. The four years I spent there were the most formative of my education, transforming me from a recent graduate into a independent organic chemist. Without the training I received at Nottingham, I would never have achieved a professorship in chemistry. For this outstanding department to continue cultivating top-tier scientific talent, maintaining a robust and well-supported faculty is absolutely essential. |
| Danai Theou | University of Patras | |
| Peter Gooden | University of Hertfordshire | |
| Charlotte Harper | University of Nottingham | |
| Sarah Memarzadeh | University of Nottingham | |
| Andrew C Marr | Queen's University Belfast | A University is its staff (technical, academic, administrative...) and its students; both should be cherished. This decision neglects both and hints at management by spreadsheet. Nottingham chemistry is special; this is not a tall statement, it is fact, just look at what has emerged from it: a world leading green & sustainable chemistry research and teaching program, the Periodic Videos, natural product synthesis, bioinorganics and MOFs...... You can clearly see the positive impact this school has had on society: locally, nationally, and internationally. I urge the management to reconsider, and to value what they have, once it is gone, it cannot be recovered. |
| Adrian Clarke | Novartis Pharma AG | It’s essentially for international pharmaceutical companies that key universities like Nottingham continue to have chemistry departments and train and develop the talents of the future and undertake research in these area. |
| Fernando Bresme | Imperial College | |
| Preston MacDougall | Middle Tennessee State University | Nottingham Registrar and Physics Professor Captain Thomas Porteous Black was a World War I hero (died at Gallipoli) and a first cousin of my great, great grandfather, also named Thomas Porteous Black, after their grandfather of the exact same name. In his memory, please keep science strong at Nottingham, which includes strength in the central science of chemistry! |
| Tony Edge | Chromatographic Society | |
| Dr Chiran Mistry | University of Limerick | |
| Sophia Aybulut-Williams | University of Nottingham | |
| Hannah Raja | University of Bristol | |
| Barnaby Greenland | University of Sussex | |
| Andrea Bombana | Domainex Ltd | |
| Pamela Carrillo Sanchez | University of Liverpool | |
| Abhigyan Dasgupta | IISER Thiruvananthapuram | Supporting this petition from India. May the School of Chemistry prevail above all. |
| Benjamin Young | JCB | As an alumni of this department, I am appalled by the proposed action of the university. |
| Deborah Sneddon | University of Sussex | |
| Gareth Surman | University of Bologna | |
| Susan Fleet | Britest Ltd. | |
| Laura Winfrey | University of Edinburgh | |
| Asha Akram | University of Sheffield | |
| Martin Smith | University of Oxford | |
| Victor Sans | Universitat Jaume I | |
| Matt Takle | University of Leeds | |
| Emily Myatt | Rolls-Royce plc | |
| Dr Mandeep Singh | GlaxoSmithKline | |
| Peter Thomas | Evotec | |
| Dr Eliza K Dempsey | Trinity College Dublin | |
| Alan Armstrong | Imperial College London | |
| Andrew Hector | University of Southampton | |
| Richard Knighton | University of Southampton | |
| Nuria Garcia-Araez | University of Southampton | |
| Prof. Ali Tavassoli | University of Southampton | |
| Peter Clark | Cornerstone Innovations | |
| Eugen Stulz | University of Southampton, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering | |
| Sam Thompson | University of Southampton | |
| Prof. Richard Whitby | Departement of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Southampton | Appalling decision at one of the best research and teaching departments in the UK. The redundancy process itself will cause long term damage to morale the department. With the size of Nottinghams UG intake with the proposed staff numbers there will be little time left for research! |
| Dr David Freeman | Cargill Bioindustrial | Having graduated with a phd from Nottingham chemistry department (Prof G Pattenden), I am am horrified to hear about the potential impact on the department at Nottingham. The university needs to consider the strategic impact of the chemical sciences on UK PLC - and minimise any impact on the chemistry department at Nottingham. |
| Goda Stasytyte | UCR Group | |
| Max Hill | University of Edinburgh | |
| Lucy Milner | Johnson Matthey | |
| James Tornos | Pfizer Inc | A wonderful institution that is the foundation of science and chemistry in the UK, this needs to be rethought |
| Kate Jolliffe | The University of Sydney | Cuts of this size within Nottingham Chemistry will have a huge impact on both education and research activities. Chemistry underpins the solutions to so many of the thorny problems facing our world - we need more well trained chemists (like those who come through Nottingham) - not fewer of them. |
| Ashley Mattey | Croda Europe ltd | |
| Hannah Bligh | University of Lincoln | |
| Joanne Blanchfield | University of Queensland | Chemistry is a fundamental discipline in Science and must be maintained and supported in any tertiary education institution that seriously wants to call itself a University. The plans of the University of Nottingham and short sighted and will negatively impact their international standing. |
| Martin G. Banwell AO, FAA | Jinan University, China | The downsizing or closure of the illustrious Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham would be catastrophic for UK science and the discipline internationally. |
| Alison Rodger | The Australian National University | I support this |
| Dr Matt Smith | University of Sunderland | |
| Filippo Ficarra | University of Nottingham | |
| Andrew Fry | Private Citizen | Nottingham have recently decided to close their microbiology course. I don’t want to see the same happen to Chemistry. Actions such as this threaten the long term viability of STEM education in UK universities |
| Nick Williams | University of Sheffield | These cuts will put a leading chemistry department into decline, and harm the academic reputation and function of the university. These proposals are terrible, particularly locally for staff caught in misguided management decisions, but also for national and international chemistry - an essential central science under sustained assault across the UK. |
| Gurbuz Comak | Mersin University | I strongly encourage the management to reconsider this decisiton and save Chemistry Department |
| Charlotte Godziewski | City St Georges University of London | |
| Ben Hudgell | University of Bath | |
| James Jennings | University of Graz | |
| Ken C | Thermo Fisher Scientific | Universities are for teaching and research, cutting the very people who embody these virtues should not be the first port of call in reduction of costs. Added C initial |
| Marc Little | Heriot-Watt University | |
| Graeme Barker | Heriot-Watt University | |
| Matthew Hird | University of Cambridge | |
| Martin Sova | Natex Prozesstechnologie GesmbH | |
| Matthew McConville | Sygnature Discovery | Slow dismantling of a talented workforce for short term financial savings will be detrimental in the long term. Save Nottingham chemistry! |
| Dr. Julia Fernandez-Vidal | Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research | |
| Iris Nandhakumar | University of Southampton | |
| Tahsina Writer | University of Nottingham | |
| Monika Dabrowska | University of Nottingham | |
| Imre Berger | Max Planck-Bristol Centre, University of Bristol UK | Fully support the petition. |
| Ejike Dick | University of Nottingham | |
| Professor Julian Eastoe | University of Bristol | |
| Alice Roberts | University of Nottingham | |
| Tom Oliver | University of Bristol | |
| Daniel Swallow | Immaterial Ltd | |
| Katherine Twiggs | University of Birmingham | |
| Eduardo Garcia-Verdugo | University Jaume I | |
| Matthew Jenner | University of Warwick | This petition has my fullest support. |
| Richard Grainger | University of Birmingham | |
| Amy Pearson | University of Nottingham | Teaching is the heart of UoN, these cuts are brutal and short sighted, and would create an loss of global beating talent. |
| Benji Fenech Salerno | Imperial College London | The proposed redundancies risk undermining the school’s reputation, teaching standards, and research impact. I encourage the university to engage constructively with the UCU to find solutions that safeguard jobs, maintain academic excellence, and secure a sustainable future for this esteemed department. |
| Timothy Easun | The University of Birmingham | |
| Gregory Perry | University of Southampton | |
| Prof. Maxie Roessler | Imperial College London | I was extremely impressed by the Department of Chemistry in Nottingham when I visited recently to give a seminar. It would be huge loss to UK Chemistry to damage this department! |
| Dr Chris Arthur | University of Bristol | |
| Russell Kitson | Charles University, Czech Republic | |
| Karen McKinney | Sygnature Discovery Ltd | Save Nottingham Chemistry |
| Dr Bruce Milne | University of Aberdeen | |
| Michael Howlett | University of Bristol | This plan is not only shortsighted and detrimental to UoN but disturbing for all those in the sector. This proposed erosion of UK teaching and research must be reversed! |
| Dr B.D.A. Naafs | University of Bristol | STEM research is essential for the UK economy |
| Chris Russell | University of Bristol | |
| Mercedes | University of Nottingham | |
| Tom Macdonald | University College London | |
| Isobel Jones | Sygnature Discovery | |
| Glenn Lees | University of Nottingham | A university that cuts 70% of its chemistry teaching staff shouldn't expect to remain a university for much longer. These cuts fundamentally strike at the root purpose of the university system. |
| Katie Greenough | UK National Nuclear Laboratory | |
| Eleanor Baker | Routen Chaplin | |
| Sebastien Rochat | University of Bristol | Chemistry at Nottingham is widely recognised as excellent in teaching and research - don't ruin it all, with consequences well beyond the University. It is clear from past similar experiences that once a chemistry department starts shrinking and eventually, closing, it is nearly impossible to reverse course. Please consider the impact not only on the concerned academics, but on the region and country as a whole. |
| Alice Nottingham | University of Nottingham | |
| James Stubbing | University of Sussex | |
| Alastair Lennox | University of Bristol | |
| Jasper Tyler | University of Bristol | |
| Max Luckett | University of Nottingham | |
| Romilly Hryczanek | Evotec | |
| Dr Ben Pilgrim | University of Nottingham | |
| Amy McCarthy-Torrens | University of Bristol | |
| Eduardo Perez Velilla | Complutense University of Madrid | The reputation and quality of the School of chemistry at Nottingham University has always been on the top. Researchers and Staff members are excellent. Scientific, teaching and otreaching outcomes are outstanding. Can anybody explain me the need of jeopardizing all these? |
| Michael Robb | Imperial college london | In the land of Jesse Boot (Boots Nottingham) how can a chemistry dept be under threat? |
| Louise Male | University of Birmingham | |
| Kevin Butler | University of Nottingham | |
| Kat Harris MRSC, fCMgr | Imperial College London | |
| JL Kiappes | UCL | |
| Anna Zhenova | Green Rose Chemistry | Nottingham is one of the three three UK universities that are held up as global examples of leadership in sustainable chemistry. These short-sighted cuts risk losing that reputation and putting the university behind its peers. |
| Prof Caroline Dessent | University of York | |
| David Palomas | University College London | |
| Christophe Corre | University of Warwick | |
| River Riley | UCL | This is a very shocking proposal. The government recognises a current and emerging skills gap in our economy and chemistry education is central to addressing this issue. Nottingham attracts many talented undergraduates and has a key role to play in the strengthening of the chemical sciences. |
| Professor Anna Peacock | University of Birmingham | |
| Hamish Yeung | University of Birmingham | |
| Dr Linnea Soler | University of Glasgow | This seems a shortsighted response to a difficult situation, especially by targeting the teaching-focussed staff who are vital to maintaining the quality of the teaching (lectures, labs, tutorials) and who provide so much of the very necessary pastoral care to support the successes of student learners. Teaching focussed academics contribute greatly to the prestige of the School and student satisfaction through their chemistry education research, their innovation and implementation of approaches to enhance student learning, all of which leads to better student outcomes, increased satisfaction in the NSS, and supports recruitment of future students. This will impact on the student-staff ration (SSR) with the remaining staff and the students feeling the burden and the disadvantage of eradicating talented and dedicated staff. |
| Adedayo Dada | University of Nottingham | |
| Sam Kilgour | University of Nottingham | |
| Tom Ward | University of Nottingham | The proposed changes to the university are a ransacking that will leave the university crippled for decades to come. Far from being a route out of financial challenges, the new business model is the latest in a long line of management blunders, and totally fails out the university on a strong footing for the future |
| Owen Tooley MRSC, AFHEA, RSci | University of Warwick | The University of Nottingham’s chemistry department is renowned for its research and teaching. These proposals, especially targeting teaching staff will not help the quality of the students, research or reputation of the department. |
| Amy Lumsden | Impact Solutions | |
| Dr Tamara Alhilfi | University College London | Incredibly bad foresight from management; a dreadful decision that will greatly affect teaching quality, institutional reputation and chemistry innovation. |
| Rob Law | Imperial College London | |
| Jade Harper | School of Chemistry | opposing the decision to carry out redundancies |
| Briana Obreja | University of Sheffield | |
| Zeljko Knez | University of Maribor | |
| Natalie Mera-Pirttijarvi | The University of Manchester Innovation Factory | |
| Shamim Fanai-Danesh | University of Nottingham | |
| Joanna lee | Arcinova | Our teachers and staff are vital for the chemistry school’s capabilities you’re offering to undergrads and postgrads. Without them I wouldn’t have got my PhD there. |
| Neil Allan | University of Bristol | Nottingham is a famous outstanding 5* chemistry department . Unbelievable that it's in danger. |
| Adam Noble | University of Bristol | |
| Dr Daniel Payne | Open University | |
| Calum McMullen | The Open University | |
| Don Samuel Aborah Junior | University of Nottingham | As a first year Medicinal and Biological Chemistry student, I am directly benefiting from the expertise and dedication of staff across teaching and research. Cuts of this scale threaten the quality of laboratory teaching, student support, and the long-term strength of a department that contributes significantly to healthcare, sustainability, and scientific innovation. |
| Prof. Matthew Langton | University of Oxford | |
| Alice Ritchie | University of Nottingham | |
| Manoj Kumar | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Smita Odedra | University of Glasgow | This is a shortsighted response to a difficult situation, especially by targeting the teaching-focussed staff who are vital to maintaining the quality of the education in Chemistry. Teaching focussed academics at Nottingham are sector-leading, contributing enormously to the prestige of the School with award-winning initiatives and influential ideas in education that consistently deliver strong student satisfaction. These redundancy plans jeopardise the recruitment of future students and will hit the university income and reputation in the longer term. |
| Prof Paul McGonigal | University of Oxford | The proposed cuts to Chemistry at Nottingham would damage one of the UK’s internationally respected chemistry departments at a time when the country needs stronger capacity in science, innovation, and technical education. Sustained excellence in chemistry depends on investment in people, teaching, and laboratory expertise, not their removal. |
| Ikram Abdulkadir | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Toufic Mrad MRSC | University of Oxford | Imposing job cuts left and right seems to be the easy way out for many institutions nowadays. It is hardly a wise choice, especially when academic staff in a department of this calibre are affected. Please reconsider this decision, and reassess the mechanisms in place that led to it. The academic community suffers enough as it is, and yet continues to promote science, and education more generally, for the good of humanity despite all hardships. That in itself is a noble human cause and deserves respect, not punishment. |
| Ben Swallow | UoN Chemistry | |
| Lucy Kay | University of Nottingham | |
| Izabella Jones | University of Nottingham | |
| Anna Cousens | Almac | |
| Nicholas Power MRSC | The Open University | Within the UK there is strong demand for skills in the chemical science (currently 314,000 workers in chemical related industries [rsc.org]), and with an expected sector growth faster than overall labour market (~30% higher growth) [rsc.org], how could you even consider cutting chemistry at Nottingham whilst there is a persistent skills shortage in the UK in this sector and fewer institutions offering chemistry studies in the UK. Unfathomable!! |
| Alex Robinson | Uon chemistry student | |
| Marie LEPETIT | Domainex ltd | |
| Seth Sharpe | University of Leeds | |
| Zaki Habib | The Open University | |
| Roly Armstrong | Newcastle University | |
| Dr John Reilly | Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research | As a medical school university I find it hard to believe the consideration of any life sciences reorganisation especially Chemistry could be considered. Nottingham has given the world amazing chemists within Pharmaceutical organisations and world known research. The science that would not be undertaken at Nottingham in light of these decisions is a massive loss, please reconsider |
| James Pearce | University of Nottingham | |
| Tom Hall | School of Chemistry Alumni | |
| Ganesh Vailaya | University of Southampton | |
| Zoran Novak | University of Maribor, Slovenia | Without Chemistry, there is no modern university — it is the language of medicine, materials, energy, environment, and future technologies. |
| Jonathan Wilcox | Nottingham School of Chemistry | We cannot let this department lose quality of teaching! |
| Richard Wheatley | University of Nottingham | I have been a member of academic staff in Chemistry at Nottingham for over 30 years. During that time, my colleagues and I have worked to raise the status of the School to a point where it ranked competitively with Oxford and Cambridge in terms of research, while delivering nationally acclaimed teaching innovation and efficiency. Over recent years, individual staff in the School have gone far beyond our core roles, unrecognised and at considerable cost to our careers and wellbeing, to mitigate a series of disastrous University decisions for which we in Chemistry were not responsible. This proposal punishes us for suffering the predictable outcomes of those decisions, and offers nothing but a possibly terminal decline of the University. |
| Toby G | University of Nottingham | |
| Jennifer Hiscock | University of Kent | As Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry (MASC) interest group, I would advise the University of Nottingham to reconsider their position on this matter. The Chemistry department at Nottingham is world leading and has a long history of contributing positively, not only to the national and international supramolecular chemistry communities, but many others. Chemistry is a cornerstone of the UK economy and given current national and international events, this is an area that we should fight to protect, not restrict. Reducing the number and therefore inevitably the scientific diversity of those members of your chemistry department is a step backwards, not a step forwards. |
| Dr Fredrik Schaufelberger | University of Warwick | |
| Dr Jamie Wilmore | University of Oxford | |
| Marwa Elmasri | UCL | |
| Miguel Rivera | UCL | The University of Nottingham has a globally recognised Chemistry Department. It's hard to imagine its reputation surviving these cuts. The targeting of teaching-focussed academics sounds like an attempt to undermine solidarity between staff on different contracts. Whether this strategy succeeds or not, the net effect will be a dramatic loss in the quality of teaching and working conditions for all remaining staff. |
| Ziad M | The Open University | This is not fair |
| Allie Miller | University of Nottingham | |
| Paul Murphy, Established Professor | University of Galway | |
| Alexander Sterling | University of Nottingham | Advancing sustainability is an existential challenge to society. Dismantling chemical research will not speed up our progress. |
| Michelle Duong | University of Nottingham | |
| Manvendra Sharma | University of Sussex | |
| Sean Bromilow | University of Oxford | |
| Prof Peter Crowley | University of Galway | |
| Luke Delmas | Imperial College London | |
| Manuel Nunes da Ponte | Nova University Lisbon, Portugal | The Department of Chemistry of the University of Nottingham is a world reference in Sustainable Chemistry |
| Pawel Dydio | University of Cambridge | Chemistry research is not a cost centre; it is one of the highest-return investments modern economies make. From pharmaceuticals and materials to energy, catalysis, agriculture, semiconductors, and manufacturing, chemistry underpins entire industrial ecosystems and hundreds of thousands of high-skill jobs in the UK alone. Public investment in research consistently generates disproportionate economic return by creating new technologies, attracting private capital, and enabling industries that would not otherwise exist. Weakening the research base may save money short term, but it risks eroding the innovation pipeline that drives long-term productivity, industrial competitiveness, and technological sovereignty |
| Sophie Benjamin | Nottingham Trent University | |
| Xiao Yuan Wang | University of Nottingham | |
| Samuel Bennett | University of Nottingham | |
| Morgan L. Thomas | Keio University | As an alum of the PhD course, I'm astounded to hear that substantial cuts are being proposed. The school's illustrious teaching and research environment, led by devoted faculty, is top class. The award-winning and expert technical staff contribute immeasurably to both research and education. The school is an exemplar of reacting to shifting times, driving change with the Carbon Neutral Laboratory, and more recently with the creation of the AI and Digital Chemistry MSc program. The school also makes vital community contributions, including phenomenal outreach programs, successful business ventures, and the recent launch of a joint postgraduate program with Nottingham Trent University. It's difficult to understand how the proposed cuts could be in any way positive, either in the short or long term. |
| Maisy barnett | University of Oxford | |
| Andy Wilson | University of Birmingham | To the senior leadership and management at Nottingham University - Shame on you! |
| Andrew Surman | King's College, London | I write from an institution (KCL) which felt, a few years ago, that Chemistry should be cut to save money. This proved a false economy, and was eventually reversed. The decision damaged the institution's reputation AND its bank balance, thanks to the large cost in lost income opportunities and of eventually rebuilding (more expensive than maintaining capabilities). Several institutions had had similar experiences of closing or hobbling Chemistry. Nottingham may not heed our concerns around inevitable damage to the Chemistry community, or UK science. With precedents to learn from, Nottingham would be unwise not to consider the long-term cost to their own institution, once those driving these cuts have claimed success and moved on. |
| Prof. Albertina Cabañas | Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) Spain | I first visited the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in 1998, when I was finishing my PhD. There, I found a vibrant research community that allowed me to explore science in an “out of the box” way. Since then, I have returned to Nottingham many times in several academic roles, and some of my PhD students have also undertaken research stays there. The School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham has remained a reference institution for me. Its organisation, commitment to Green Chemistry, laboratory practices, outreach activities, and strong safety culture have guided me throughout my professional career. Today, when chemistry is more important than ever for finding solutions to the energy crisis, climate change, and global challenges such as pollution, sustainable materials, and public health, funding high-quality education and research in chemistry at the University of Nottingham should be a priority. I fully support the School of Chemistry and oppose the proposed staff redundancy plans. |
| Sonja Herres-Pawlis | RWTH Aachen University | |
| Mark Jordan MChem FRSA | Royal Society of Chemistry | |
| Mia Briscoe | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Stephen Flower | University of Bath | |
| Megan Munro | University of Nottingham | |
| Prof J Stephen Clark | University of Glasgow | I find it incredible that UoN is engaging in a process of self-harm by damaging one of its most prestigious schools in this way. |
| Dr Darren S. Lee | Nottingham Trent University | |
| Kofi Coke | University of Southampton | |
| Ann Joji | University of Leicester | |
| Hanan | Kings college London | STOP THIS !! |
| Adam Richardson MChem | University of Nottingham | Cutting funding and proposing layoffs to such a worldwide renowned School of Chemistry is like shooting yourself in your own foot. Sustainable chemistry is our future and we should do everything to protect and preserve that! |
| Dr Mikhail Sinev | Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, RAS | The University of Nottingham's chemistry team is a highly respected and productive member of the international scientific community. The proposed decision would deal a significant blow both to the prospects for collaboration within it and to the prestige of the University of Nottingham itself. |
| Tabassum Khadijah | University of Nottingham | |
| Soji Kuchmina | King's College London | |
| Lewis Challen | University of Nottingham | |
| Pau Farràs | University of Galway | |
| Dr Josef Boronski | Imperial College London | If the UK is to maintain its reputation as a world leader in education and research (and, concomitantly, if the UK is to continue to attract students from abroad), internationally renowned Chemistry Departments, such as that at the University of Nottingham, must receive the full support of their respective university and the government. |
| M. Jonathan Fray | retired, University of Nottingham 2010-5 | I worked at Pfizer at Sandwich for 24 years and during that time we recruited more chemistry staff from UoN than any other university, including Oxford, Cambridge and IC. Some of those rose to very senior positions within Pfizer. |
| Dr Sally Bloodworth | Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, University of Southampton | |
| George Healing | University of Southampton | |
| Noah Barnett | University of Nottingham | |
| Ellie W | University of Nottingham | |
| Prof. Claudia Blindauer | University of Warwick | It is plain to see that this act of vandalism across many departments at the University of Nottingham will be unbelievably damaging on so many levels - the only way this will go is downhill. Please listen to your staff, and think again. |
| Timothy Barendt | University of Birmingham | |
| Emily Greeves | University of Liverpool | |
| Oliver Smith | Science Technology Facility Council - Central Laser Facility | |
| Antonia Dase | University of Nottingham | |
| Madison Blower | Chemistry | No! |
| Robert Phipps | University of Cambridge | |
| Oliver Byrne | University of Nottingham | |
| Prof Jane Grasby | University of Sheffield | I was so incredibly sorry to hear this news. There has been so much important and impactful chemistry that has come out of Nottingham over the years. Right now, chemistry research and training are under attack across the country, a consequence of the ongoing squeeze on universities. Yet, downsizing and disinvesting in academic chemistry means disinvesting in scientific progress, economic strength, and the long-term well-being of our society. Sending you solidarity and support from Sheffield. |
| Jessica Gregory | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr. Harry C. Sample | University of Southampton | |
| Dylan Seaman | University of Nottingham | |
| Evie Thompson | University of Derby | |
| Jay Johal | University of Southampton | |
| Professor David Fermin | University of Bristol | Ibuprofen, MRI scanners, and Periodic Videos are just a few examples of the global impact made possible through the School’s rich and distinguished history. Its future now risks being severely compromised by these proposed cuts. I stand with the chemistry community in strongly supporting this petition. |
| Faaris Parker | University of Nottingham | Solidarity to all impacted by these reckless proposals. |
| David Pugh | King's College London | |
| Amelie Northwood | University of Nottingham | |
| Anna Bertram | University of Nottingham | The proposed staff cuts will severely damage our School. Increasing staff–student ratios will make it impossible to maintain the high-quality teaching that has placed us second in the University for student feedback. There is no clear evidence or modelling that these measures will achieve their stated aims; instead, they risk driving declines in teaching quality, research performance, and student experience. In turn, this will undermine our ability to recruit high-quality students and sustain the reputation we have built. Quite simply, we need our staff to deliver for our students—these cuts threaten the foundations of our success. |
| Siam Sama | UCL | |
| Naveen Naguleswaran | University of Birmingham | |
| Wim Thielemans | KU Leuven | |
| Richard Bertram | Nottingham University Alumni | |
| Lisa Bertram | Nottingham University Alumni | As a former student I believe that it is very important for Nottingham University to maintain its high teaching standards to attract future students and enable the high quality of education that has always been associated with the University and is required by the UK’s scientific industries. |
| Prof Patricia Forbes | University of Pretoria | Should the proposed cuts to the Chemistry Department go ahead, it will take many, many years and a vast amount of capital to overturn this decision and to set the Department back on course towards re-establishing the current state of excellence. Protect this exemplary asset! |
| Brian Edward Fender | Ex Chemistry Oxford University | History matters and the chemistry department in Nottingham has been an important part of chemistry in UK including attracting support from Boots. |
| Gary Salmon | Retired drug discovery scientist | I strongly oppose the proposed redundancies at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. This will adversely affect the world class teaching, research and training provided by this department, and the supply of future chemists to the UK and international science base. Any potential loss of staff would have a severe negative effect as a leading UK chemistry department whose alumni have made many significant contributions across the pharmaceutical industry, and to the discovery of transfomative new medicines. It is vital we maintain and develop this expertise within the UK. I hope that the proposed redundacies can be prevented and a plan put in place to secure the future of this key university department. |
| Jess Solly | University of Nottingham school of chemistry | |
| Katherine Haxton | Keele University | Nottingham Chemistry has a group of incredibly talented and thoughtful education focussed staff. Their commitment to an exemplary (and award winning) student experience, to meaningful employer engagement and innovative curriculum design has been clear in the past few years through high impact dissemination at nationally leading conferences. That this same group are now threatened with redundancy is extraordinary. Please reconsider this: the risks far outweigh any short-term benefit. |
| Nisha Mistry | Industry | |
| Prof Nick Turner | Uni of Sheffield | My time at OU summer schools were spent in Nottingham Chem. It was a vibrant place then and when i visit collaborators now, its just the same. These cuts will cause irreparable damage to the department and institution. It will be a shadow for years to come. |
| Dr. Bryn Harris | Neomet Technologies, Montreal, Canada | Chemistry is fundamental to the understanding and recovery of the very metals and critical minerals that every jurisdiction is creating lists of. Without chemistry, we will not be able to recover these metals, especially the so-called rare earth elements, which are deemed critical to the fight against Climate Change and Global Warming. If there is one discipline that universities worldwide should not be cutting back on, it is chemistry. Sadly, Nottingham, my home town, is not alone in this. |
| Lorna Bosdet | N/A | As a former PhD and Masters chemistry student at the UoN, I am deeply saddened to hear of these redundancies and the impact they will have on such a fantastic and highly regarded institution. |
| Himani Mistry | University of York | |
| Ben Harper | University of Oxford | Many of my close friends are academic staff at the university of Nottingham chemistry department and it’s such a tragedy for so many of them to be made redundant, many of whom have been there for decades. Please rethink some of these decisions as it impacts people’s lives greatly. |
| Daniel Keddie | University of Nottingham | |
| Benjamin Lugg | University of Nottingham | |
| Jone Iraneta | University of Nottingham | |
| (Emeritus Professor) John Kelly | Trinity College Dublin | The University of Nottingham’s reputation will surely be greatly weakened by the effect of these cuts on a Department which has such an outstanding record in teaching, research and the public understanding of science. The University should reconsider this proposal. |
| Julia Sarju | University of York | |
| Alexander Hendrich | University of York | |
| George Ballantyne | Evotec | |
| Will Warner | UoN Alumni | |
| Dr Ravi Singh | Imperial College London | The UK cannot be at the forefront of science if educational/research facilities are facing closures. So many talented scientists (and scientists in training) will suffer from this. |
| Matt Rattley | University of Oxford | The university's plan in its current format, leading to a gutting of the Chemistry department (among others), would be an embarrassment to UoN and to higher education in the UK as a whole. "Making difficult decisions" is one thing, and yes there are challenges around HE funding at the moment, but a wholesale culling of jobs across research, teaching and technical roles cannot possibly be the answer. It is not too late to do better! |
| Tamzin Bond | Imperial College London | |
| Akiharu Kitagawa | Rolls-Royce | |
| Samuel Balmer | University of Nottingham | |
| Jake Graham | University of York | |
| Robbie Caldwell | University of Nottingham | |
| Vlasis Gergis | University of West Attica | |
| Dr Andrew Marsh | University of Warwick | It is clear that promoting expensive estate and capital investments at the cost of people's jobs and livelihoods, especially those that sit at the heart of science and engineering innovation is not the right way to manage UK universities. |
| Andrew Lacey | University of Bristol | |
| Michael Sommer | Chemnitz University of Technology | |
| Milosz Dlugosz | Oxford University | |
| Ryan Bates | University of Nottingham | |
| Andrea Pettenuzzo | Astrazeneca | |
| Anna Parkin | Oxford | |
| Ishwarjeet Dhillon | University of Warwick | Chemistry departments help to train the next generation of chemical scientists, which are needed in all spheres of society. Taking away this opportunity opens up further disparity in higher education. |
| Professor Alastair Murchie | Fudan University, Shanghai | Chemistry is not an optional luxury for a modern university; it is one of the foundational sciences on which medicine, materials science, energy technology, pharmaceuticals, engineering and environmental protection all depend. Weakening a Chemistry department for short-term financial convenience is an act of extraordinary institutional short-sightedness. Research in Chemistry drives innovation, attracts international talent and investment, and provides students with skills that are vital to the UK economy and scientific future. What is most frustrating is the apparent willingness of administrators, many with little understanding of scientific research, to treat departments as spreadsheet entries rather than intellectual communities built over generations. The value of a research department cannot be measured solely by immediate financial return. Once expertise, laboratories and academic reputation are lost, they are incredibly difficult to rebuild. Universities should defend scientific excellence, not dismantle it through managerial ignorance and short-term thinking. |
| Shanjun Huang | University of Oxford | As a university that prides itself on their contribution towards a sustainable campus, it seems to be counterintuitive to cut staff from the department that is actively working solutions to drive the chemical industry towards a smaller footprint and a greener future. |
| Malaika Waqas | University of Nottingham | |
| Claudia Caltagirone | University of Cagliari | I support the petizione of the collegies in Nottingham |
| Adam Henry Turner | Ateneo de Manila University | Chemistry is a foundational science and good education comes from teachers who have the time and resources to succeed. Loading many students on relatively few academics is closure by stealth and slow decline. This must not happen here or anywhere. |
| Prof. Masashi Ishikawa | Kansai University | I recently began a research collaboration with faculty members in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, and I recognize that they maintain an excellent environment for teaching and research. Since it is clear that significant staff cuts will undermine their teaching and research capabilities, I wish to express my opposition to these cuts. |
| Lewis Chambers | University of Tasmania | |
| Taichi Kida | Kansai univ. | |
| Deguchi Minako | Kansai University | I oppose the layoffs. |
| Fatihah Najirah | Sophia University | Please save The School of Chemistry. We should embrace the growth of science and STEM fields among the young generation! |
| Martin Wills | The University of Warwick | The chemistry department at the University of Nottingham is one of the very best in the UK and is respected globally. The proposed changes would clearly cause catastrophic damage to this outstanding department and to the university. |
| Sarah Pike | University of Birmingham | |
| Kristian Mears | Max-Planck-Institute | |
| Finlay Blackwell | University of Oxford | |
| Tadafumi Adschiri | Tohoku University | Nottingham University is a uniquely distinguished institution in the world where chemistry and chemical engineering are truly integrated. It is precisely because of this interdisciplinary structure that the university has achieved major contributions ranging from fundamental scientific discoveries to innovative technological developments, and I am convinced that this is why it continues to remain a global leader in the field. |
| Rohini Srivastava | UCL | |
| Alison Hill | University of Exeter | Much has been said in the comments about the excellent research done within the Chemistry Department at Nottingham, but the teaching is exceptional, innovative and award winning. Please learn from other institutions that have gone down this path only to regret it. |
| Dr Rebecca Randle | Element | |
| Andrew Gilbert | University of Exeter | |
| Johannes Walker | Georg August Universität Göttingen | Today's discoveries will drive tomorrow's world. What a pitiful inheritance university leaders are leaving for future generations by failing to invest properly in universities, science, and research. They will be looked back on with derision if this decision stands. |
| Dan Stratton | The Open University | It's terrible that your institution funds itself in a difficult financial position. The decisions that lead to this position were made at a senior level yet your staff, the beating heart of your institution suffer. Although you are not unique in this strategy it is disgusting that you treat your staff and students with such contempt. You need to find another way. Maybe it's time that you petition the government for support. The university system was once a force of innovation, social mobility and society changes rather that this money at all costs approach. Do better. You are meant to represent what thinking and strategies can do to promote the greater good. |
| Siddhant Sarkar | University of Bristol | |
| Cameron Reeve | University of Nottingham | |
| David Fairen-Jimenez | University of Cambridge | |
| Aileen Day | University of Southampton | |
| Dr Chris Serpell | UCL | Chemistry is the key to solving some of the most pressing issues of our time - climate change, sustainable materials, energy, agriculture, medicine, and aging are all areas where we need new understanding and technologies, which unavoidably involve chemistry. Nottingham has long been a centre of excellence for training of students who will be able to solve these questions. The results of the planned cuts will lead to a staff base which will be transparently unable to deliver a high quality curriculum to anything like the number of students Nottingham has been educating to date. I have seen the dramatic lowering of teaching quality that cuts like this result in first hand. It will greatly diminish the reputation of the University of Nottingham, and hence its long-term financial standing, and more importantly impact our ability to progress as a society both nationally and internationally. |
| Silvia Varagnolo | The Open University | |
| Dr. Andrew Parrott | University of Strathclyde | As a former student (twice) and a former member of staff I find the large number of planned redundancies shocking. The plans should be changed! |
| Prof. Klaas Wynne | University of Glasgow | |
| Shusha Mahdy | University of Nottingham | |
| Goetz Bucher | School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow | |
| Kate Tape | University of Nottingham | Cutting teaching in programmes like this is an act of enormous self-harm to British science education. Understanding chemistry is fundamental to addressing many of the major global challenges we face, and these are essential degrees that underpin the future scientific workforce. |
| Dr. Bernhard V. K. J Schmidt | University of Glasgow | |
| Prof. Susan Quinn | University College Dublin | |
| Jake Davies | University of Glasgow | |
| Dylan Shaw | University of Glasgow | |
| Dr Anita Hall | Imperial College London | |
| Annie Hunter | University of Edinburgh | |
| Dr Ryan Skilton CSci MRSC | Saint Gobain | It is tremendously sad that such a prestigious centre for learning has fallen so far. The teaching staff are exceptional, but the support and technical staff were always real heroes to students and postgraduates, and losing them would deprive whatever remains of the real thread that made that school such an extraordinary place. |
| Pete Skabara | University of Glasgow | |
| Katherine Inskip | University of Sheffield | My son is a high-achieving student wanting to study Chemistry at university - Nottingham's short-sighted cuts are a massive deterrent to the recruitment of good students |
| Abigail Sheridan | University of Edinburgh | |
| Dr Heather Fraser | The Open University | |
| Malamati Malamatenia Batziaka | University of Glasgow | |
| Alana Clark | University of Edinburgh | |
| Audrey Cameron | University of Edinburgh | |
| Louise Robertson | University of Edinburgh | |
| Dr. Andrew D. Phillips | University College Dublin | Many colleagues of Nottingham school of chemistry are highly noted in the field and have and contiune to make significant contributions to field of chemistry. Its a world class school and cuts would serious affect and undermine the reputation and strength of UK chemistry. |
| Prof James Sullivan | University College Dublin | |
| Prof. Dermot Brougham | University College Dublin | |
| James Miles | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Peter Byrne | University College Dublin | |
| Evan Walter Clark Spotte-Smith | University College Dublin; Carnegie Mellon University | |
| Megan Bryden | University of Glasgow | |
| Sarah Prayle | University of Nottingham | |
| Siobhan Stevenson | University of Strathclyde | |
| Lauren Mcguire | University of Edinburgh | |
| Phil Kitson | Uiversity of Glasgow | |
| Bradley Hopkins | University of Nottingham | I started my undergraduate studies in Chemistry at Nottingham in 2016. Back then, the undergraduate teaching laboratory was brand new and a leading facility within the Chemistry community. Ten years on, it has stood the test of time and continues to deliver outstanding education which I played a small part in as a PhD demonstrator. The lion's share of the credit for this success belongs to academics who have overseen this project, and the technical staff who keep the teaching facilities running all year round. Arbitrary cuts driven by a desire for cost savings will have a detrimental effect on sector-leading facilities such as this one. Moreover, Chemistry at Nottingham has a long history of world-beating research in areas of photochemistry, flow chemistry and supercritical fluids. A plethora of high-impact publications has come from research groups in these areas, as well as impactful collaborations with companies including, but not limited to, AstraZeneca, Lubrizol, Kaneka and Croda. Keeping these resource-intense capabilities going may appear expensive on a spreadsheet, but they do pay for themselves through grant funding and industrial collaborations in the long run. Removing 10% of technical staff risks the loss of essential knowledge for maintaining the equipment for research, and the construction of novel instrumentation too. |
| Dr Joëlle Prunet | University of Glasgow | |
| Robert Winder, BSc, PhD | FTI Consulting / University of Nottingham alumnus | |
| Shakeba Said | University of Nottingham | |
| Elaine O'Reilly | University College Dublin | As a former member of academic staff of the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, I am shocked to hear about these proposed cuts to the wonderful cohort of staff that the School is so lucky to have. The School has enjoyed a fantastic reputation for excellence in teaching and research and there is no doubt that these cuts will have a devastating impact on its reputation. |
| Dr Ross Jackson | University of Bath | |
| Matthew Stevens | University of Bath | |
| Dr Christopher Syme | University of Glasgow | Cutting staff at the School of Chemistry at Nottingham is self-defeating and a huge step in the wrong direction. Please reverse this decision and protect highly skilled and valued jobs. |
| Severn Hodgson | University of Nottingham | |
| Ketan Ruparelia | De Montfort University | |
| Holly Anderton | University of Nottingham | As a final year undergraduate student, I have benefitted immensely from the dedication, expertise and support provided by the chemistry department at every stage of my degree. This quality of teaching simply won't be possible with the proposed cuts. |
| Prof Christina Redfield | University of Oxford (Emeritus) | |
| Luke Dovey | University of Edinburgh | |
| Alex Bush | HydRegen Ltd | As a recent graduate from the School of Chemistry I am deeply concerned about the university’s planned cuts. |
| Dr Freya Hine | University of Nottingham Alumni | |
| Dr. Shibin Thomas | University of Southampton | |
| Gillian McArthur | University of Manchester | |
| Lucy Gilmour | University of Bath | |
| Keanan Suggett | University of Edinburgh | |
| Dr Caroline Hyde | The Open University | Cuts of this scale to Chemistry at the University of Nottingham risk undermining the very expertise needed to address national priorities in energy, medicine, manufacturing, and environmental sustainability. In the current UK climate, reducing investment in world-class scientific education and research should never be considered as a sustainable path forward. |
| Aniello Palma | University College Dublin | |
| Dr Shaun Mutter | The Open University | |
| Fun Man Fung | University College Dublin | There are other ways to solve institutional situations, collectively. People are an institution's best assets and spokesperson. There is still time to reverse a decision that will do lasting damages. |
| Renato Vitalino Goncalves | Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo | I strongly support this open letter and urge the University of Nottingham to reconsider the proposed compulsory redundancies in the School of Chemistry. |
| Prof. Marcus Baumann | University College Dublin | |
| Teresa Matini | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Benjamin Arenas | University of Edinburgh | |
| Professor Helen Hailes | University College London | |
| Ruby Smith | University of Liverpool | |
| Tom Hooper | University College Dublin | |
| Fiona Dickinson | University of Bath | |
| Prof Gan Shermer | University of Bath | |
| Dr Matthew E. Potter | University of Bath | We are constantly being told that chemists and chemistry will play a vital role in addressing the world’s most pressing global challenges. This has repeatedly proven true, and is far more than mere lip service to the field. As such, devastating cuts such as those proposed should rightly be viewed as acts of barbarism and vandalism on a global scale. |
| Kyle Pearce | University of Bath | |
| Jon Husband | University of Bath | |
| Dr Fabienne Pradaux-Caggiano | University of Bath | |
| Alexei Szpuk | University of Oxford | |
| Dr. Alexis Bordet | Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion | |
| Andrey Antonchick | Nottingham Trent University | Don’t let decades of chemistry disappear in a moment. |
| Professor Stephen Cochrane | Queen's University Belfast | |
| Linda Jacobs nee Thompson | University of Nottingham Chemistry PhD | |
| Dr Ulrich Hintermair | University of Bath | |
| Carmen Domene | University of Bath | |
| Justynne Fabian | Maynooth University, Ireland | |
| Dr Hans Senn | University of Glasgow | |
| Prof. Mike Hill | University of Bath | |
| Stephen Wells | University of Bath | British universities are a national asset that is being shamefully neglected and deliberately run down by successive governments. This must stop. |
| Marina Uzelac | University of Bath | |
| Professor Andrew Burrows | University of Bath | |
| Brendan Healy | University of Warwick | |
| Daniel Borg | University of Nottingham | |
| Elizaveta Suturina | University of Bath | |
| Troy Bennett | Cambridge University | |
| Dr Aaron Trowbridge | University of Manchester | |
| Jack Lister | University of Nottingham | The proposed changes will cause immediate and irreversible damage. Good teaching staff are invaluable and cost-saving should be made elsewhere. |
| Maria Storm Thomsen | University of Southampton | |
| Ruth Pegington | CDT | |
| Daniel Dawson | University of St Andrews | Chemistry is fundamental to addressing so many challenges of today (antibiotic resistance, new materials for green energy, ensuring enough food and clean water for all, recycling our limited natural resources, and so on) and Nottingham is a strong player on the global field. In that light, one has to wonder what university management is contributing to the future of humanity and whether, perhaps, 14 cuts there might not do less damage and save more money. In solidarity with the workers and the students who are being lined up to suffer for the incompetent mismanagement of others. |
| Imogen Rimmer | University of Nottingham | |
| Jonathan Nitschke | University of Cambridge | Nottingham's chemistry department has added tremendous value to the UK economy over the years. It should not be defaced. |
| Martin Boddie | The University of Edinburgh | |
| L Krishnakanth Reddy | Sai Life Sciences Ltd | I support the petition. The chemistry department has a record of outstanding achievements |
| Joseph Steel | University of Glasgow | |
| Dr Daniel Scott | University of Bath | |
| Mads Fox | University of Nottingham | |
| Emma Bowles | University of Nottingham | |
| Erica Wanless | University of Newcastle | |
| Ru Harpur | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr James Taylor | University of Bath | |
| Dr Ben Partridge | University of Sheffield | |
| Dr James Pidgeon | University of Sheffield | |
| Dr Ashley Board | University of Nottingham Alumni | |
| Gurnoor Sund | University of Nottingham | |
| Adeifeoluwa Jolaosho | School of Chemistry | |
| Joseph S. Vyle | Queen's University Belfast | Pioneers in green chemistry and world leading communicators; my enduring memory of my time there was the strength of both undergraduate and postgraduate training which secured graduates from the school top jobs in diverse sectors. |
| Sam Whittle | University of Nottingham | |
| Prof Priyani Paranagama | University of Kelaniya | Chemistry is central science for all science subjects. For a modern economy, it is short sighted to cut one of the better departments of chemistry in the country. this is a shocking proposal. |
| Sarah Whitehouse | University of Sheffield | |
| Patrick Thomson | University of Strathclyde | An appalling failure of university leadership that should never have got to this position. This will significantly damage chemistry in the UK. |
| Imogen Hall | University of Nottingham | |
| Sally Boss | Cambridge University | |
| Dr Will Greenwood | University of Sheffield | |
| Prof. Simon Lewis | University of Bath | The Chemistry Department at the University of Nottingham is internationally leading, with a world class research output and globally respected degree programmes. For the university to impose such swingeing cuts on an unambiguously successful department such as this is an act of self-sabotage. The chemistry community, the local community, and the UK’s research standing will all suffer as a result if these cuts go ahead. |
| Dr Jamie Cadge | University of Bath | As a former undergraduate in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, I strongly support this open letter. I have very fond memories of Nottingham, shaped by enthusiastic, dedicated staff whose commitment made a lasting impact on my education. The proposed changes will totally undermine that supportive and high-quality environment. |
| Steffen Gielen | University of Sheffield | This is a disgrace |
| Dr John Lowe | University of Bath | |
| Nick Le Brun | UEA | |
| Magnus Rattray | University of Manchester | |
| Dr. Mato Lagator | University of Manchester | |
| Professor Matthew Davidson | University of Bath | The cultural and economic consequences of diminishing chemistry at Nottingham make this a highly irrational proposal. If enacted it would have devastating impacts on individuals, the School of Chemistry and the wider chemistry community, both in the UK and beyond. I therefore strongly urge the senior management to pause and reconsider before carrying out such a short-sighted and destructive act. |
| Rowan Earlam | UCB | |
| Dr Syeda Sana Batool | University of Sussex | |
| Robyn Krajniewski | Nottingham university | As a parent of a student who is a chemistry student at Nottingham University, I can only say how disappointed I am hearing about the proposed cuts. The university should be made aware that prospective students thinking of wanting to further their education at Nottingham are very concerned about these cuts and are looking elsewhere. If this happens then Nottingham university will lose vital funding from potential students choosing a different university that will be stable and also provide good quality teaching. |
| Professor Lee Brammer | Univerity of Sheffield | Chemistry – a discipline in UK universities with a strong reputation internationally – is under attack across the UK University sector. The planned cuts to Nottingham Chemistry are misguided and would be highly damaging to the University of Nottingham, practically and reputationally, to its students and, of course, to its staff. I can empathise with colleagues and students in Nottingham as we are facing similar misguided actions in Sheffield. |
| Alex Krajniewski | University of Nottingham | |
| Natasha Preston | University of Surrey | |
| Liz Birchall | Formerly University of Leeds | Chemistry is a central science that supports a great many other fields. Eroding a cornerstone of the university is deeply unwise. |
| Dr Kyle Galloway | University of Nottingham | |
| Jude Ferrier | University of Glasgow | |
| Andy White | Centre for Process Innovation | |
| Jonathan Goodman | University of Cambridge | |
| Dr James Cranch | University of Sheffield | |
| Professor Simon Hall | University of Bristol | |
| Mark Dixon | Nottingham University | Why on earth would you defund one of the University’s best assets ? Keeping the best assets fully funded will allow the lows to be balanced with the highs. Defunding the best assets will just lower the highs, and doesn’t guarantee a return later |
| Georgia Orton | University of Birmingham | |
| Dr Christopher Waldron MRSC AFHEA | University of Warwick | |
| Cameron Alexander | University of Nottingham | Chemistry is truly the central science, and of key significance to any research university |
| Akil Jacobs Holden | CatSci | |
| Prof Ross Galloway | University of Edinburgh | This decision must be revisited. The proposed staff student ratio is simply untenable, particularly for a laboratory-heavy discipline such as Chemistry. There would inevitably be serious repercussions for Nottingham’s standing both nationally and internationally, and long-lasting damage. |
| Ruth Akinmusola | University of Exeter | Save Nottingham chemistry. Everything is all about matter occupying space and time. Chemistry is vital to all aspects of science, including molecular and computational biology. Please leave our Lecturers alone. |
| Kathryn Williams | Aarhus Universitet | |
| Professor M. Carmen Galan | School of Chemistry, University of Bristol | |
| Prof Mauro F A Adamo | RCSI University of Medicine and Heath Sciences | |
| Dr David Whalley | AstraZeneca | So sad to see my undergraduate institution be in such a state, please take time to reflect on what a poor decision these actions would be. |
| Dr Paul Davies | University of Birmingham | |
| Dr Paul Gates | University of Bristol | The UK needs to invest in the Chemical Sciences at World leading Universities if it is to maintain its reputation. These proposed cuts damage the University of Nottingham and damage the UK as a whole. |
| Dr Terri Grassby MRSC MIFST | University of Surrey | |
| Louise Wissett | University of Nottingham | |
| Professor Matthew Gibson | University of Manchester | |
| Ryan Foong | University of Nottingham | |
| Alex Greenaway | Former Nottingham Student | |
| Sean Evangelista | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Nick Tucker CEng FIMMM MRSNZ | University of Lincoln | |
| Haluk Sengun | University of Sheffield | |
| Annika Casson | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Frances Docherty | University of Glasgow | It is amazingly short-sighted to reduce chemistry provision at a time when the Royal Society of Chemistry projects chemistry-related jobs growth will exceed the general UK labour market by 30%. We need to train the next generation of chemists. Please rethink Nottingham. https://www.rsc.org/news/2025/january/new-future-workforce-and-educational-pathways-report-examines-what-is-needed-to-realise-chemistry-s-potential |
| Nathan Boase | Queensland University of Technology | Chemistry at Nottingham is an internationally recognised leader. I can't imagine how these changes can leave it in a stronger and better respected position. |
| Dr Derek Wann | University of York | I’m shocked and saddened to hear of these shortsighted actions by the University of Nottingham’s senior management. I sincerely hope they think again before damaging the strong and sustained achievement of the Departments of Chemistry and Physics. |
| Dr Martin Goodier | Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe | As a teacher who guides young people to studying STEM subjects in Higher Education, this can only seriously damage the future of Chemistry in this country. |
| Dr. Clyde Davies | University of Nottingham (alumnus) | I graduated from Nottingham in Chemistry over 30 years ago. I am saddened by recent developments. I never thought I would see the day when this world-class School of Chemistry would be forced to make such changes for the worst. Universities are not businesses. They are long term institutions dedicated to bettering the learning process through teaching and research. As such they are vital to the country's future culture and prosperity. Please reverse this short sighted and destructive policy, not just for Nottingham Chemists but across all subjects and all universities. |
| NIRANJAN SANZGIRI | BIOXERA PHARMA (FORMER STUDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW) | |
| Tom Scott | University of Nottingham | As a student, my experience of the teaching at Nottingham has been streets ahead of my previous experience at another university. It is truly a USP of the school, not just that the academic and technical staff care, but they provide an atmosphere that supports and encourages learning. Anything that threatens this makes the department weaker, by making staff teach outside their field of expertise and reducing student contact and resources. The results will be dissatisfied students, overworked and burned out staff, and lower achievement rates as these combine to demotivate students from further study or pursuing a career in chemical science. It would be beyond shameful if the faculty that helped me rediscover my love of chemistry folded in a knee-jerk bid to make false economies when other options are on the table. I would ask the university to reconsider its stance before it does damage it can’t undo due to the long term reputational damage that cutting so many staff will cause among staff, students and funding bodies. I wish nothing but the best for the university and the school and hope there is a way through this that protects a valuable part of the university in its entirety. |
| Dr Stephen Argent | University of Nottingham | The outstanding research and teaching in the School of Chemistry at Nottingham are needlessly being put at risk by these outrageous plans devised by a university executive board with a trackrecord of serial incompetence. |
| Jessica O’Neill | AstraZeneca | |
| Dr Alex Cresswell | University of Bath | Nottingham Chemistry is recognised internationally as one of the strongest departments in the UK. It would be a travesty to see it damaged by these proposed cuts. Please think again. |
| Matthew Ryley | School of Chemistry Alumni | |
| Yukiko Matsui | Kansai university | |
| Rita Neves | University of Sheffield | |
| Connor Mulryne | University of Nottingham | |
| Hamid mohaddes | Mathematical sciences | Stop the job cuts |
| Dr Victoria Richards | Springer Nature | |
| Alexandra Elizabeth Bailie | STFC UKRI | I would not be where I am today without the people in this department. |
| Dr Danica Pinto | University of St Andrews | |
| Rachel Butler | Vesiculab | |
| Ursula McGuone | University of Sheffield | |
| Hyotcherl Ihee | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | I agree with the petition. |
| Dr Mary Mahon | University of Bath | |
| Robert baker | Trinity college Dublin | |
| Susanna Ogden | Loughborough University | |
| Dr Charlie McTernan | The Francis Crick Institute | Cuts of this magnitude would leave the chemistry department unviable, and the university circling towards collapse - a terrible plan! |
| Dr Ryan Clark | University of Oxford | Having done my undergraduate degree in chemistry at Nottingham I can attest the department is excellent, and really helped set me up in my career. Cuts will have drastic effects on the undergraduates, who are the lifeblood of the university, and will lead to a death-spiral as have been seen for other departments. Chemistry is needed now more than ever and so should be prioritised, not slashed! |
| Lorelei Robertson | University of Nottingham | |
| Assoc. Prof. Eoghan McGarrigle FICI MRSC | University College Dublin | |
| Pedro Gois | Universidade de Lisboa | Chemistry can never be redundant |
| IBIYE GEORGE | American Chemical Society International | If it's going to bring the university chemistry department to its knees then don't do it. It's clearly not for the greater good of the people who school there, work there and the university at large |
| Dr Tom Andrews | University of Sheffield | |
| Dr Chris Hall | Churston Ferrers Grammar School | I worked as a postdoc in the Chemistry department at Nottingham before starting my teaching career. In addition to the excellence of its research and teaching, the department has produced incredible resources that have inspired a generation of students to pursue Chemistry. I'm astonished that these cuts are even being considered. |
| Jack Woodruff | University of Sheffield | |
| Herbert Fruchtl | University of St Andrews | |
| Richard Collins | Industry | |
| Dr Frank Rutten | HAN University of Applied Sciences | I have first-hand encountered and enjoyed the high quality of teaching at the Nottingham School of Chemistry. This should be treasured and built upon to benefit students and the nation: the UK needs well-educated chemists! |
| Katalin Barta Weissert | University of Graz | |
| Zachary Douglas | University of Nottingham | |
| Niall Shirley | University of Nottingham | As a student in chemistry at the University of Nottingham, I'm incredibly concerned about the quality of teaching that will be able to be delivered as a result of these proposed changes. I don't think it benefits, the university as a whole, the chemistry department or it's students. |
| James Reid | University of Sheffield | |
| Siobhan Smith | University of St Andrews | The proposed cuts seem like a shortsighted decision which will lead to the destruction of a highly commended teaching and research department. We must protect the future of chemistry and the related sciences for the benefit of our society. |
| Andrea Floris | University of Lincoln | Save Chemistry at Nottingham and across UK universities. Destroying Chemistry in the UK is suicidal for the country. |
| Ben Simpson-Halals | University of Nottingham | getting rid of staff that people rely on to do good works seems not the best |
| Evdokiya Ivanovska | University of Nottingham | |
| Penny Williams | CAS | We should be investing in STEM subjects, not shrinking university chemistry departments. I use my chemistry degree from Nottingham every day in my work for CAS. |
| Kathryn Da Costa | University of Nottingham | |
| Justin Joseph | University of Manchester | Nottingham's chemistry department is very important to the global chemistry community as well as the UK as a whole. |
| Susannah Lydon | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Devi Sagar | University of Nottingham Alumna | |
| Yusra Abdelhamid | University of Nottingham | |
| Isla Spackman | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Rosemary Young | Australian Synchrotron | |
| Dr Mark Wood | University of Exeter | Cuts to what always has been and continues to be, one of the world's leading Chemistry Departments, would be yet another short-sighted act of academic vandalism towards fundamental scientific teaching and research in the UK. |
| Emily Storey | University of Leeds | |
| Demeke | University of St Andrews | |
| Mahni Fatahi | University of St Andrews | |
| Aisika Chakraborty | University of St Andrews | |
| Prof Michael Buehl | University of St Andrews | |
| Jovan Polese-Abramowicz | University of St Andrews | |
| Mina Ardani | University of St Andrews | |
| YING ZHANG | University of St Andrews | Yes |
| Kevin Kasten | University of St Andrews | |
| Dr Kathryn Burton | University of St Andrews | |
| Dr Craig P. Johnston | University of St Andrews | |
| Stephen McMahon | University of St. Andrews | short sighted |
| Michal Malon | JEOL UK LTD | Chemistry is a foundational science that underpins progress in healthcare, energy, materials, and environmental protection. The ongoing closure and merging of chemistry departments across the UK is therefore deeply concerning. If even leading universities such as Nottingham are affected, it signals a worrying trend that risks long-term damage not only to academic excellence but also to the UK’s ability to innovate and compete globally. |
| Nida Shahbaz | University of St Andrews | |
| Souvik Roy | University of Lincoln | This is such a short-sighted decision to cut chemistry at UK universities when it's such a key area to focus on for a sustainable futue and economic growth |
| Rowan Brydson | University of Glasgow | |
| Finlay Morrison | University of St Andrews | An extremely short-sighted decision |
| Dr Heitor Seleghini | University of St Andrews | |
| Renald Schaub | University of St Andrews | Cutting Chemistry at Nottingham would be an act of self-harm for the University and a blow to British science. This is a top-tier department doing vital research. Dismantling it makes a mockery of any claim to academic ambition. The decision speaks to a profound failure of judgment at leadership level. It needs to be overturned. |
| Paul Webb | University of St Andrews | |
| Bela Bode | University of St Andrews | |
| Sam Wharvell | University of Nottingham | |
| Julia Payne | University of St Andrews | |
| Dr Joseph Byrne | University College Dublin | |
| Seth Cohen | U.C. San Diego | |
| Phillip T. Lowe | University of St Andrews | |
| Conor Long, Emeritus Professor | Dublin City University | This is an appalling proposal to cut staffing at one of the most innovative and forward-thinking chemistry departments. The management must reconsider this short-sighted plan. |
| Prof. Mark Senn | University of Warwick | |
| Adelina Voutchkova | American chemical society | The Nottingham chemistry department is one of the most prominent hubs for green and sustainable chemistry. Any action to undermine is resources and capabilities would cost not just the university, but chemistry innovation community, gravely. |
| John Fox | University of Nottingham | Losing 1/3 of the academic staff would irreversibly damage the chemistry department at Nottingham |
| Professor Emeritus Nick Greeves | University of Liverpool | |
| Dr Charlotte Sutherell | Imperial College London | The Department of Chemistry at Nottingham has an excellent reputation for both research and teaching, with the staff a crucial part of this. Apart from the direct damage to the quality of this work and long-term impact on ability to recruit talented students and staff, the centrality of Chemistry means that weakening the strength and impact of the Department will have wider impact in the institution and sector. |
| Jeannine Hess | King's College London and The Francis Crick Institute | |
| Elizabeth Castillo Martínez | Universidad Complutense de Madrid | At a time that chemistry knowledge is becoming more necessary and the field of chemistry increasingly relevant |
| Rosemary Lynch | University of St Andrews | Please look for alternative ways to make necessary savings, this is too big a cut to the Chemistry department at Nottingham University, we need to keep chemistry departments up and running, this is an essential area of science. |
| Bitu Hurisso | Saint Mary’s University | The risk letter received by 31 out 46 academic staff is a terrible news for me as an alumini of the school of chemistry. This school is one of the best place in the world for teaching and research in various areas of chemistry. I suggest the university management to find other ways of reducing cost instead of killing such a golden part of the institution. |
| Kim-Isabelle Mehnert-Birk | University of St Andrews | Unfortunately, we need money for our work, although the result of the work is worth way more than that. Our ork in Chemistry is substantial for shaping a better future, or even a future we can live in. Cutting money is not only cutting people out of wokr, it's cutting and diminishing our future |
| Dr Tomas Lebl | University of St Andrews | |
| Abigail Bellamy-Carter | University of Birmingham (graduate from Nottingham Chemistry department) | |
| Katrin Ackermann | University of St Andrews | |
| Helen Connaris | University of St Andrew | |
| Dr Sarah Crowther | The University of Manchester | |
| Fin Morris | University of Nottingham School of Chemistry | |
| Dr Sonja Egert | University of St Andrews | |
| Iain Patterson | University of St Andrews | |
| Professor Phil Gale | University of Groningen | This seems to be a very heavy handed solution to a problem not caused by the staff in Chemistry at Nottingham. The University is the teaching, research and support staff. This magnitude of the proposed cut will put the Department and the University into a downward spiral. Another solution is needed that preserves the expertise built up in one of the UK’s top chemistry departments over many decades. |
| Dr Ross Green | Loughborough University | |
| Dr Niek Buurma | Cardiff University | The destruction of chemistry around the UK continues, this time in Nottingham. It's time to stop this destruction because a country that does not train sufficient chemists becomes dependent on other countries, potentially fatally so. |
| Tanisha Dholakia | Loughborough University | |
| Dr Amanda Pearce | Loughborough University | |
| Michael Parkes | University College London | |
| Vanessa Ward | Durham University | |
| Alan Kenwright | Durham University (Retired) | I was a chemistry undergraduate at Nottingham more than 45 years ago and on the basis of the excellent education I received there went on to enjoy a succesful career elewhere. Please read the comments from people far more distinguished than me and then think about the reputational damage you are proposing to inflict on Nottingham University. This is unbelievably short-sighted. |
| Dr Jedd Bellamy-Carter | Loughborough University | Nottingham Chemistry (and its associated degrees) has produced 100s of graduates who have gone on to roles in academia and industry. It has shaped the lives and careers of many, but this was only possible when the staff numbers and morale were sustainable. The proposed redundancies and cuts are short-sighted and will damage the department (and wider Chemistry in the UK) for many years to come. |
| Aleksandra Huk | University of Nottingham | |
| Benjamin Martin | Novartis Pharma AG | |
| Sam Taylor Buck | University of Nottingham | |
| Matthew Sandhu | University of Nottingham | |
| Andinet Aynalem | HalioGen Power | |
| Dr. David A. Duncan | University of Nottingham | |
| Courtney Calahoo | Genics | I work at an R&D department that relies on partnering with chemistry and other academic departments. Many of my projects involve science and engineering graduate students. |
| John Stinchcombe | Alumni of Nottingham University | This is a department of worldwide standing |
| Mauricio Cafiero | University of Reading | |
| Carl Romao | CTU Prague | |
| Cristina Femoni | University of Bologna | Education in general, and higher education, are the bases of a civil community and they should be supported by the Government. |
| Praveen Choudhary | University of St Andrews | |
| Louise Dash | University College London (UCL) | |
| Mariafrancesca Fochi | University of Bologna | |
| William Dean | Barker Brettell LLP | |
| Dr Robert Edkins | Univetsoty of Strathclyde | Nottingham Chemistry is an internationally respected department so it is highly disappointing to see the uncertainty that their staff face. |
| Richard Robinson | Novartis Biomedical Research | Past Alum Nottingham PhD - would not have been able to contribute over 25 years and running in pharmaceutical research without high calibre education from University Nottingham Chemistry Department. We are losing too much chemistry in U.K. and hence future competitive edge. Please reconsider this step. |
| Nat Morris | University of Nottingham | The proposed cuts to the School of Chemistry would be devastating to everyone involved if allowed to go ahead as the university plans. Things do need to change but losing so many members of staff and their vast knowledge isn’t the answer. The university are seemingly happy to go ahead with these cuts regardless of the impact to the School, the financial and mental wellbeing of everyone involved and the students past, present and future. Our teaching and research is vital to the continuation of our School which we can’t do without academics, technicians, researchers, admin staff and everything that goes on behind the scenes to create future chemists. I may have only been at the School for nearly 4 years but in that time, the School of Chemistry has shown such an amazing sense of community. My hope is that as a community, we can make our voices heard to show why Chemistry is important to the university and how changes can be made without leaving the School and the people who work here in utter chaos. |
| Lars Ratjen | Yale University | Weakening Nottingham’s Chemistry department would undermine the University’s capacity to deliver world-leading research, educate future scientific leaders, and drive the innovations essential to global sustainability—now and over the long term. |
| Dr Fraz Saeed Butt | University of St Andrews | |
| Rebekah Bickerton | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr Lewis E. Mackenzie | University of Strathclyde | The school of chemistry at University of Nottingham runs the best chemistry outreach program in the world in the form of Periodic Videos. With over 1.6 million subscribers, 746 videos, and over 296 million video views since 2008, Periodic Videos has insipired members of the public, including the next generation of scientists. This long-term public facing outreach program is arguably the face of academic chemistry globally and has been a credit to the University Nottingham, the UK, and global science. Clearly the University of Nottingham School of Chemistry is something special. I emplore the University of Nottingham to reconsider. |
| Professor Mike Whittlesey | University of Bath (retired) | |
| Samantha Pugh | University of Leeds | This is madness! Nottingham is, and always has been, a truly excellent and thriving chemistry department. There has to be a better way. |
| Angela Halton | University of Nottingham | |
| Professor AnnMarie O'Donoghue | Durham University | |
| Kat Swindells Ridley | University of Southampton | |
| Darren Fayne | Dublin City University | |
| Katy Nicholls | University of Nottingham | |
| Muaz T | Cardiff University | Chemistry is everything, chemistry is life, we should be supporting it… not losing it. Chemistry is extremely vital for medicine and sustainability. Most medicines, if not all, the very core to their existence is because of chemistry and the scientists behind it. Department such as Nottingham school of chemistry are needed for our future. I genuinely don’t want to see Nottingham school of chemistry closed!! Especially after I had my hopes to pursuing a PhD there |
| Jim A Thomas | University of Sheffield | When is the government going to wake up to the slow-motion car crash that is occurring in academia, particularly chemistry? University administrators are strangling their Golden Goose. The human experience, expertise and facilities embedded in a centre of excellence like chemistry in Nottingham can never be replaced or reconstructed. Ultimately, the effects of these contractions and closures will be hugely disruptive to the UK's international reputation, academic standing, and its long-term economic performance. |
| Dr Wuzong Zhou | University of St Andrews | |
| Prof Tasnim Munshi | Keele University | |
| Dr Matthew Lennox | University of Bath | |
| Hannah Prydderch | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr. Serguei Soubatch | Forschungszentrum Jülich | |
| Fiona Moore | Glasgow Caledonian University | |
| Ashleigh Chester | UCL | |
| William Stafford | University of Edinburgh | |
| Juliane Simmchen | University of Strathclyde | |
| Hayley Manners | University of Plymouth | |
| Professor Gavin Bell | University of Warwick | |
| Andrei Malkov | Loughborough University | |
| Professor Steven Schofield | University College London | |
| Prof Chris Hayes | University of Nottingham (Emeritus) | |
| Professor Rosa Arrigo | University of Salford | |
| Dr Jake Greenfield | University of St Andrews | Having grown up watching the Periodic Table of Videos and seeing the strength of the Chemistry department in Nottingham, it's pretty wild to even consider the planned action. |
| Prof. Giovanni Costantini | University of Birmingham | |
| Dr Lyndsay Soutar | Mars, Inc | |
| Jennifer Goddard | University of Nottingham alumna | |
| Cathal Gallagher | University of Hertfordshire | |
| Prof. Benjamin Robinson | Lancaster University | |
| Karen Goldberg, Director of the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology | University of Pennsylvania | |
| Martyn Inman | Sygnature Discovery | |
| Dave Hay MRSC | University of York | I never thought I would see the day where the Chemistry Department would see threats like this which fail to account for its past and present excellence and its potential to continue that excellence into the future. Nottingham is playing fast and loose with its jewel in the crown which has systematically produced chemists of the highest order into the wider world. This is an affront to a world leading department. |
| Prof. Reinhard Maurer, Alexander von Humboldt Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, Former UKRI Future Leaders Fellow | University of Vienna & University of Göttingen | The Chemistry department at the University of Nottingham is a keystone department for the science education landscape in the UK with a long tradition of delivering world-class teaching and research. The department and its members should not have to pay the price for the incompetence of senior leadership. |
| George Chen | University of Nottingham | Not only the Chemistry School, but also the whole University of Nottingham is being threatened by redundancy as a result of the very short-sighted Future Nottingham 2. |
| Alec Bruce Coles | University of Bath | Our collective future relies on teaching excellence. Please reconsider in light of the immense harm this will do to future chemists, scientists and students. |
| Eva Thompson | The Estee Lauder Companies | My MSc in Green & Sustainable Chemistry from the University of Nottingham has been instrumental in my career success. I have led my company to be a global industry leader in green chemistry thanks to the teaching and research faculty at UoN. If the university needs more international students, consider highlighting what UoN has done for successful Chemistry alumni instead of decimating the future generation of scientists and engineers. Everything is chemistry. The world runs on chemistry. Don't sacrifice it because of poor financial decisions elsewhere. |
| Francesca Greco | University of Reading | The importance of the 'pure' sciences cannot be overestimated. |
| Professor Charles Sykes | Tufts University | This will do much more long term damage than any benefit from short term cost savings. |
| Carolina Maleiro | University of Plymouth | |
| Kim Jelfs | Imperial College London | |
| Rory Oakes | University of Nottingham | |
| Rodolfo Teixeira | Loughborough University | |
| Ryan Lin | University of St Andrews | |
| Dr Alexandra Stupple | Monash Univeristy | As an alumni of the undergraduate and PhD program, I was shocked to hear about the massive cuts to the academic and technical staff at the Nottingham chemistry department proposed by the University. Chemistry is a core subject that underpins many life sciences and a solid grounding in chemistry is required to face the many challenges that need to be solved today and into the future. These cuts will greatly impact the sector, and I feel for the staff and students who will be directly impacted by these cuts. |
| Dr. Elizabeth Hampson | Uni of Nottingham School of Chemistry Alumni | |
| Anita R. Maguire | University College Cork | |
| Dr. Francesco Allegretti | Technical University of Munich (Germany) | |
| Luca Giovanelli | Aix-Marseille Université | |
| Fiona Sorrell | Merck Healthcare KGgA | Chemistry teaching is important for the future of the university and it is counterproductive to cut staff and teaching resources. The overall impression of the department will be negatively impacted leading to lower student recruitment. |
| Jim Tweedie | University of Strathclyde | Another consequence of financial mismanagement by so-called University leaders. |
| Dr. Mark Isaacs | HarwellXPS | As a national research facility we see projects from all parts of the country and Nottingham chemistry routinely bring extremely high level research proposals, reflecting the status of the department as top class. |
| Ivan Zlatkov | University of Oxford | |
| Professor Christian Nielsen | Queen Mary University of London | |
| Dr Chris Daly | Ineos Acetyls | Throughout my career in university and industry I have had the pleasure of working with skilled scientists who have been trained at Nottingham, and have contributed significantly to the both the scientific knowledge and economy of this country. Impacting the teaching and academic quality of the department is a mistake. |
| Oliver Jancke | InnovaWood | |
| Graeme Jones | Keele University | This is just pure vandalism. When are the Government going to get a strategy and when are the Royal Society and other professional bodies going to grow a back bone and stand up for Chemistry. |
| malcolm kadodwala | University of Glasgow | |
| Martin Whitaker | Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence | The proposed cuts to staff in Chemistry have the potential to do lasting damage to the University's reputation. The UK’s current Industrial Strategy is promoting growth & innovation which Chemistry underpins across a range of strategically important subjects: medicine, pharmacy, engineering, materials science and energy research. Without fundamental Chemsitry research at Nottingham future innovations and industrial partnerships are being put at risk and will reduce the positive impact that can be made for the society’s benefit. |
| Professor Duncan Bruce | University of York | This is pure and short-sighted folly, undermining a first-rate department with a well-deserved international reputation. |
| Christian Hoenig | Quotient Sciences | |
| Henry Chandler | University of St Andrews | These suggestions should be considered university-wide. I understand the physics department is also at risk. |
| Matija Simonovic | University of Nottingham | |
| Marina Gladkikh | University of Glasgow | |
| Rob Lindsay | University of Manchester | Very short sighted plan that will have long term negative impact. |
| Will Reynolds | OXKEM Ltd. | |
| Andrew Whittaker | The University of Queensland | The School of Chemistry is internationally renowned for excellence across the broad foundational areas of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry. Of note is the School's standing in the field of green and sustainable chemistry, supported by distinguished researchers in the aforementioned chemistry disciplines. Diminishing the School in any way would represent a great disservice to the University of Nottingham and to Chemistry in the UK. |
| Matthijs van Spronsen | Diamond Light Source | |
| Louise Dynes | University of Nottingham | |
| Barthel Engendahl | Engendahl Scientific Consulting | |
| Alberto Calloni | Politecnico di Milano | |
| Helena Quigley | University of Leeds | |
| Theodoros Papadopoulos | University of Chester | |
| Samuel Jarvis | Lancaster University | |
| Diana Kolos | Durham University | I completed a MSci Biological and Medicinal Chemistry at Nottingham Uni - an excellent course which led me to pursue positions in the pharmaceutical industry as well as to complete a PhD at another institution. The planned cuts are preposterous. |
| Profesor John Leonard | Retired from Astrazeneca and UK Academia | As a previous collaborator, and former Chair of a Nottingham University Chemistry Department CDT Board, I'm appalled to hear that the University are considering severe cuts to the Chemistry Department. The Nottingham Chemistry Department has a fine international reputation and has maintained a position as one of the leading university chemistry departments in the UK for many years. As a scientist at Astrazeneca I was responsible for academic collaborations and Nottingham has been one of a select few departments in the UK that have received continuing support because of their enduring reputation for research output and high quality teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. |
| Simon Cox | Loughborough University | |
| Tom Clayton | University of Nottingham | |
| Paul Barker | University of Cambridge | When these cuts reach some of our big, internationally respected institutions (Nottingham here, Sheffield recently) it shows that short-sighted cuts to research and teaching expertise have now reached the bone. As others have pointed out, Chemistry is a central science and a source of great innovation with many applications. These cuts would be devastating to Nottingham and to the whole UK. No one Chemistry department in the UK can cover every aspect of the subject and so Chemistry in the UK needs every currently active institution to foster the wide variety of research and teaching expertise needed to ensure that the Chemistry community in the UK can operate as more than the sum of the parts. Killing off Nottingham Chemistry would remove one of the big pillars supporting the subject nationwide. The loss of expertise would be a great insult to the fine legacy of this top institution, and to the value of Chemistry as a source of growth in understanding. |
| Simon Hodgson | University of Chester | Chemistry and Physics are two of the most important sciences behind modern technological progress, the UK should be investing in these courses not cutting them |
| Prof. Stephen Faulkner | University of Oxford | Cutting jobs and expertise is short-sighted at best, and should be reconsidered. Nottingham has consistently been one of the strongest Chemistry departments and has a long and innovative tradition of excellence in research and teaching. These things can only be done properly with appropriate breadth of coverage and support, and the University needs to remember that it is much easier to destroy something than to rebuild it. |
| Matthew Bottomley | University of Oxford | |
| Prof. Robert G. Jones (Emeritus) | University of Nottingham | This seems to be a case of lions led by donkeys. |
| Dr Liz Munday | UCL | |
| Dr. Thomas Logothetis | University of Southampton | |
| Clem Berry | University of Nottingham | |
| Lucie Marx | University of Liverpool | |
| Alan Wortman | University of oxford | |
| Anna Roffey | UCL | This should not happen, it is a false enconomy to downsize in this way, dismantelling this centre of chemistry excellence is a mistake. |
| Lewis Pearson-Winspur | Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies Ltd. | |
| Marianne O'Connell | Tufts University | |
| Vinita Lal | Tufts University | |
| Dennis Meier | Tufts University | |
| Joshua Kritzer | Tufts University | |
| Mollie Corbett | Tufts University | |
| Nipun Dewage | Tufts University | |
| Nima Rajabi | Tufts University | |
| Benedetta Brugnoli | Sapienza University of Rome | |
| Phillip Christopher | UC Santa Barbara | |
| Ming Yang | Clemson University | The cut appears to be shortsighted, without fully realizing the foundational importance of chemistry education, not only to chemical-science-majored students, but also to students in almost every walk of life who need chemistry knowledge. |
| Prof. Matthew M. Montemore | Tulane University | |
| DARIO J STACCHIOLA | Brookhaven National Laboratory, US | Cutting so many jobs now to solve a projected 2030 problem will accelerate the university's decline today. |
| Professor Matthew Crump | University of Bristol | |
| Erin Iski | The University of Tulsa | |
| Ryan Fraser | University of Strathclyde | If you can't hold our job security, you will not hold our research. |
| Professor Don Craig | Imperial College London | For many decades the University of Nottingham has been a powerhouse of chemistry in research and in teaching. The proposed cuts and redundancies inevitably will cause short-term and long-term harm, and it seems highly likely that their negative impacts will be lasting, profound and irreversible. |
| Dr Claire Brodie | Drochaid Research Services | I urge the university to rethink this decision, which would decimate the School and have long-lasting consequences. |
| Mikhail Rodkin | BASF, Vice President, Catalyst R&D (retired) | |
| Rhys Archer | University of Nottingham | "The deeply myopic proposal to dismember what makes this department great - by reducing the talented and genuinely caring staff - has already seen a reduction in the value of degrees from the university, both future and past. This affects every student to have ever passed through these doors and their employment outcomes. The proposal will undoubtedly see reductions in future student applications, investors and collaborators, and the willingness of talented staff to join the department due to justified fear of job security. Science is a human endeavour set about by people for the benefit of people: what is Chemistry without its talented Chemists? This insult of a proposal looks to strip the soul and turn the department so many call a home into just a building." |
| Dr Jonathan Charmant | University of Bristol | |
| Dr. Ashleigh Baber | James Madison University | |
| Sam Kounaves, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. | Tufts University & Imperial College London | |
| Alyssa-Jennifer Avestro | University of Oxford | The financial mishandling that has led the proposed loss of at least 30% academic talent, teaching excellence and world-leading research prosperity is non-trivial and unacceptable. In addition to the immediate negative effects this outcome would have at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Chemistry, both logistically and reputationally on the world stage, there will be immeasurable but definite knock-on ripple effects across UK institutions for years to come as academic communities rally in response to affected and displaced colleagues -- all of whom we hold in the highest regard and know deserve better. Compulsory redundancies to this extent represents an intentional handicapping of Nottingham Chemistry is simply antithetical to good strategic practice given the University's recent financial investments to enhance Chemistry infrastructure, cross-institutional and international initiatives, and postgraduate training. Senior leadership is urged to consider all other cost-saving measures proposed to avoid this outcome, recognising that Chemistry remains a powerful, productive and sustainable income generator that best universities cannot afford to - and would not choose to - diminish. |
| Professor John Snaith | University of Birmingham | This is dreadful short-termism by bean counters who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. |
| Professor Richard Walton | University of Warwick | This is shocking news for such a well-respected Chemistry department with a long record of truly innovative research, teaching and outreach. The proposed cuts will undoubtedly start a decline for Nottingham that will be extremely difficult to recover from and will damage the UK’s reputation in fundamental science, just at a time in history when we urgently need more highly-trained scientists to tackle serious global challenges. |
| Luigi Lay | University of Milan | |
| Yicheng Wang | Northwestern University | N/A |
| Dr. Eric J Kuenstner | Senior Principal Scientist, Beren Therapeutics | |
| Prashant Kumar | IU Bloomington | |
| Dr Yi-Ling Chen | University of Oxford | Chemistry is one of the central pillars of science, underpinning fields including biology and medicine. The proposed reduction in teaching fellows and staff seriously affects the quality of education and training for the next generation of scientists, as well as weakening our broader research ecosystem. |
| Prof. Eric Huseman | Marquette University | |
| Dr Peter Hunt | Sygnature Discovery | We support chemistry education everywhere but especially locally |
| Hien Nguyen | Wayne State University | |
| Gillian Eggelston | Louisiana State University AgCenter | I am a graduate of Nottingham Univ. Chemistry and now Director or the Audubon Sugar Institute of LSU AgCenter, so I owe the Chemistry department a lot |
| Dr. Tim Brunker | Tufts University | |
| Alison Wendlandt | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
| Zita Sárközi | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | |
| Joe Barchi | National Cancer Institute, NIH, USA | Chemistry is the backbone of life science departments; without its understanding there is no biology, genomics and structural science. The USA is in the throws of madmen who are casting us off into the dark ages of science---Please don't do this at Nottingham. The world needs to support science at all costs, and chemistry is the foundation. Please consider these decisions thoughtfully and wisely, not rashly...We need to support chemistry and science departments in general Now more than Ever! |
| Wolfram Korten | CEA Saclay & Univ. Bonn | All around the world science is under pressure, we need to resist together |
| Yu Zhang | Tufts University | I'm signing in solidarity with the chemistry faculty at Nottingham. Faculty members are not interchangeable line items on a budget. they are people who have spent years building careers, mentoring students, and shaping the identity of a department. Losing many of them at once would leave wounds that take a generation to heal. I respectfully ask the admin to pause, listen to the department, and consider whether gentler paths exist through this moment |
| Jennifer Kohler | UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, TX, USA) | |
| Kari Hargett | Clark College | |
| Ryan Hannagan | Bridgewater State University | |
| Dr Alan Brown | Retired (formerly Peak Science Ltd, Lucideon, VG Instruments Group etc, etc | Chemistry and particularly Analytical Chemistry provides the foundation for the development, characterisation and understanding of new materials e.g. pharmaceuticals which are a vital contributor to the UK economy. Nottingham University has a huge track record and reputation in this area - once lost, never recovered. |
| Professor Alexei Demchenko, ACSF | Saint Louis University | I fully support this petition |
| Lan Chen | University of Oregon | |
| Aysiah | Clemson University | |
| Rongfu Li | Celanese | Cut 30% off the professors in the chemistry department will be a disaster to the department. |
| Hunter McFall-Boegeman | Northwest Missouri State University | |
| Diren Pamuk | Tufts University | |
| Pedro Cintas | University of Extremadura / Spain | Chemistry is still the central science and pivotal knowledge in numerous contexts. It would be a pity to lose the wisdom accumulated for centuries. With due respect, please reconsider the action to the benefit of future generations. |
| Ryan McCulla | Saint Louis University | Professor, President of the American Society of Photobiology |
| Distinguished Professor Peter Schwerdtfeger | Massey University Auckland | Unfortunately, staff ultimately have to pay for the financial mismanagement of a university. The government should intervene to stop this massive redundancy round. |
| Becky Webb | Royal Society of Chemistry | |
| Edward Fewkes PhD | Polymer and Chemistry Solutions, LLC | |
| Steven Buckner | Saint Louis University | |
| Dr. Veronica Spaulding | University of Oregon | |
| Samir El Hajjaji | Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane | The School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham is a gem. The UK can be very proud of this world-leading school, which stands at the forefront of research and innovation. |
| Prof. Steve Liddle | The University of Manchester | |
| Shuquan Fan | Georgia State Univeristy | |
| S. Clark | Nottingham University | |
| Robert E. Maleczka, Jr. | Michigan State University | As a graduate student, Professor Pattenden was one of my chemistry heroes. As a faculty member interested in green chemistry Nottingham has remained a source of inspiration. What's proposed is nuts! |
| Luis G. MacDowell | Universidad Complutense de Madrid | An excellent faculty with outstanding research output |
| Xuefei Huang | Michigan State University | |
| Manfred Philipp, Professor emeritus | City University of New York, the Fulbright Association, and the German Academic Exchange Service Alumni Association | |
| Justin Hargreaves | University of Glasgow | |
| Eric A. High, Ph.D. | Tufts University | |
| Dr Daniel Taylor | University of York | |
| Tomoya Ogawa Honorary Scientist | RIKEN INSTITUTE | |
| Lara K. Mahal | University of Alberta | Professor of Chemistry |
| Matthew Hopkinson | Newcastle University | |
| Michael-John Treanor | University of St Andrews | This sets a very poor precedent from an otherwise well respected institution. Such a drastic action reeks of poor management decisions trying to tackle problems in the short-term without realising the drastic consequences in the long term. |
| Alison White | University of Queensland | |
| Oluwaseun Ajayi | University of Georgia Athens | Please Save Nottingham Chemistry |
| Rajendra Rohokale | University of Florida | Science is the foundation of future discoveries, innovation, and societal progress. Chemistry, in particular, plays a central role in addressing major global challenges in health, energy, materials, sustainability, and medicine. Faculty members are the main pillars of any academic department. They train the next generation of scientists, mentor students, conduct high-impact research, secure funding, and build the university's reputation. These scientists have led great discoveries that benefit the world. The breakthroughs of tomorrow depend on the teachers, researchers, and mentors. Reducing such a large portion of the faculty would not only weaken the department but also harm future research, education, and collaboration. Strong science departments must be protected and supported, not dismantled. |
| Per-Ola Norrby | AstraZeneca | Without sufficient teaching capacity, all science-dependent endeavors, in academia as well as in industry, will deteriorate. |
| Paramjit Arora | New York University | Chemistry is an essential department |
| Dr Nicholas Rees | Oxford University | |
| Gianlorenzo Bussetti | Politecnico di Milano | |
| Dr Ian McPherson | Loughborough University | |
| Deepankur John Njondimackal | University of Sheffield | |
| Corrado Minetti | The Open University | |
| Dr. Branko Dunjic | Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade | Chemistry department is very important for international cooperation |
| Emma Wilson | Loughborough University | |
| Zapryan Dumbalski | King's College London | |
| Prof. Paul Kosma | Insitute of Organic Chemistry, BOKU University, Vienna | |
| John Lugg | Member of the public and admirer of the UON's reputation in chemistry. | Please do not damage such a great national asset as the prestigious Chemistry department of the University of Nottingham. |
| Aoife Morrin | Dublin City University | |
| Sarah Smoni Varghese | University college Dublin | |
| Liam Casey | University College Dublin | |
| Tara Sobiech | ONT | |
| Aoibhinn Downes | University College Dublin | |
| Edward Kosior | Nextek ltd | Nextek has worked with the School of Chemistry for the past five years on crucial technologies on the recycling of plastics that have resulted in patents of global significance addressing the difficult task of recycling polyolefin plastics back to food grade compliance. We strongly suggest that the Department is not cut in numbers but other solutions are found to what seems to be financial challenges. Indeed the staff of Nottingham are the engine of growth for the University providing novel innovations that can generate new income for the University and provide skilled graduates for British industry and help them generate income from the commercialisation of these innovations needed by so many sectors to solve global problems. The current path forward seems like the first step on a slippery slide to oblivion. |
| Dr Peter Wing | University of Oxford | |
| Rafael Sanchez | University of Nottingham | |
| Victoria Hilborne | University College London | |
| Stefany Williamson | University of Nottingham | UON needs to save its chemistry department to keep Nottingham a leading city in this type of research and teaching. It is gradually deleting important qualifications that made UON a leading university such as MSc Nursing, and will not only damage the university’s prestigious reputation but also the economy of Nottingham itself. These leading qualifications need to stay!!! |
| Paul Nolan | University College Dublin | |
| Andrew Williamson | Education | UON should be working to keep the qualifications and research that makes it a desired university to attend. UON has a reputation for delivering outstanding research from its graduates and should be working towards increasing this, not deleting it. |
| Simon Woodward | University of Nottingham | In 1928 Jesse Boot gave the land that is now the main University campus on the understanding that Chemistry would be the foundation school of that site. One wonders if he would have done that if he had been able to look forward 100 years if he would have chosen to do that? |
| Shazad Aslam | University of Nottingham | This will destroy the highest level of quality in research and teaching. Compulsory Redundancies must be stopped at all costs for every person who has been affected and demoralised by this horrendous news. This is a marvellous School with top rated staff members (academic/technical) - a school that is highly ranked nationally and globally. This is coming from someone who has been a staff member at this School for almost 32 years. |
| Eoghan Courtney | University College Dublin | |
| Angela Agostiniano | EuChems President | |
| Josh Spademan | Chemistry | |
| Joseph Linehan | University College Dublin | |
| Dr Andrii Vorfolomeiev | Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre | |
| Andy Wibowo-Teale | UoN | |
| Alexander Smith | University of Nottingham | |
| Nelson Lam | University of Victoria | |
| Prof. Beat Ernst | University of Basel, Switzerland | |
| Jack Turner | Chemistry department, University of Nottingham | |
| Rithika P | University of Arizona | |
| Professor Emeritus Nick Norman | University of Bristol | |
| Jelena Milić | Institute of chemistry, technology and metallurgy, Univeristy of Belgrade | |
| Rachel Lynch | University College Dublin | |
| Guillermo Minguez Espallargas | University of Valencia | |
| Riley Emma Georgia Hristoff AMRSC | University of Nottingham | The School of Chemistry can take pride in the excellent research and teaching environment that it has been cultivating for years. All of that is supported by the efforts of exceptional technical staff. Cutting any more of the faculty could lead to dips in teaching quality, limited undergraduate laboratory supervision, less time dedicated for tutorials, and limited pastoral support for students. It will also have an impact on our research reputation and on our ability to foster collaborations with other institutions. I would hate to see the reputation of my alma mater being damaged in such a way. Furthermore, the way that those cuts are being implemented seems rather questionable. |
| Fathema Hoque Mazumder | University of Oxford | |
| Anugam Vamshi Krishna | University College Dublin | |
| Thomas Keenan | Drreddys Laboratories | Alumni in support of this letter |
| Charlotte Lynam | University of Nottingham | |
| Jack Pope | University of Nottingham | |
| Laurence Monks | Kindeva Drug Delivery | |
| Quin B | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr James Gaynor | University of Liverpool | No department can maintain standards in teaching or research by losing 1/3 of its staff. The scale of these cuts, at a leading department with excellent people, is a truly worrying time for the sector. The University should reconsider it's approach |
| Gemma Nixon | University of Liverpool | |
| Dr Gina Washbourn | University of Liverpool | This not only threatens the jobs of some of the wonderful staff at Nottingham, but threatens the ability for the department to offer their teaching to their students. This feels like another blow to the chemistry higher education landscape in the UK. |
| Andrew Kerridge | Lancaster University | The proposed changes will be extremely damaging to both staff and students, as well at to the credibility of the university |
| Dr Alex Padgham | University of Liverpool | Dramatic cuts to academic staff numbers will always result in a negative cycle, making the institution less reputable and lead to a further decline in income - exactly the opposite of the proposed purpose of the redundancies. As a fellow academic I cannot condone this decision and would insist that the University of Nottingham rethinks its strategy in these trying times. |
| Dr Adrian Gardner | University of Liverpool | |
| Konstantina Nikolaou | University of Nottingham | |
| Paramita Jaya Ratri | Universitas Pertamina | |
| Matthew Dyer | University of Liverpool | |
| Matt Luckcuck | University of Nottingham | |
| Dr. Martin Volk | University of Liverpool | This is a highly worrying proposal, which will significantly hurt both students and research at Nottingham. |
| John Claridge | University of Liverpool | |
| Ben Cave Calland | University of Oxford | |
| Ben Fenton | University of Leeds | |
| Gareth Parkinson | TU Wien | |
| Donna Blackmond | University of Liverpool | |
| Josie Harcourt | University of Nottingham graduate | |
| Camilla B | University of Nottingham | |
| Felicity Gwynne | Outside worker/former student | |
| Charlotte Vale | West Suffolk College | |
| Emeritus Prof. Simon Higgins | University of Liverpool | It is shocking to see the potential evisceration of a formerly thriving and research-intensive Chemistry Department, built up over decades by dedicated academic and technical staff, due at least partially to poor managerial decisions. I strongly support this petition. |
| Tim Birkinshaw | Former researcher, University of Nottingham | |
| Joern Steinert | University of Nottingham | |
| Gianluca Maria Farinola | Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro | |
| Roderick Bates | Nanyang Technological University (retired) | Consistently a leading Chemistry department in the UK! A short sighted proposal which will do long term damage to the UK. |
| Harriet Gibson | University of York | |
| Yuanyuan Cao | Capital Medical University | |
| Maia M | University of Nottingham, Environmental management and leadership | |
| Steven Rossington | The University of Salford | |
| Lee Empringham | University of Nottingham | |
| Andrew Jolleys | Nova Biochem | |
| Haleemah J. Ali | Aston University | |
| Koichi Fukase | Institute for Radiation Sciences, The University of Osaka | While the severity of the university's financial situation and the need for responsible reform are understandable, a 30% reduction in the chemistry department's faculty is not a sustainable solution. While it may lead to short-term cost savings, it risks long-term negative impacts on research excellence, external revenue, doctoral education, laboratory education, industry collaboration, student recruitment, and the university's international reputation. Therefore, it may be constructive for the University to temporarily suspend the planned compulsory redundancies in the Department of Chemistry and to undertake an independent, time-limited strategic review, involving representatives from the external scientific community, industry, alumni, students, and staff. |
| Zoe Byrne | University College Dublin | |
| Aoibheann Smyth | University College Dublin | |
| Dr. Julie Jalila Kalmoni | Imperial College London | |
| Dr Natalia Martsinovich | University of Sheffield | |
| Jean-Sabin McEwen | Washington State University | Such cuts would be devastating to both students and researchers. The University of Nottingham hosts outstanding research, and reducing the department at this level would inflict lasting damage on its academic strength and reputation. |
| Elizabeth Hilton | School of chemistry | |
| Linxiao Chen | University of North Texas | |
| Junfa Zhu | University of Science and Technology of China | Please do not damage chemisty. |
| Khuong Vuong | Department of Defence, Australia | Cutting about 30% staff at one of the best Chemistry departments in the UK in the context of UK government's focus on sovereign manufacturing and innovations...doesn't sound very smart. Chemistry is the central science! |
| Andrew Gregory | FB Rice | After obtaining my PhD from the department of chemistry at the university in 2008, I have very fond memories of the university and the support provided by staff and students across all levels. The department is held in high regard and these proposed cuts will endanger the excellent standards for training students and research output. |
| Colombe Akimana | Newcastle University | |
| Stepan Shipovskov | Kerry Group | |
| Dr. Eun Ju Park | CartiFuse Pte Ltd | |
| Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Steinrück, Member Leopoldina | Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg | "What a desaster for one of the best Chemistry departments in Europe ! This will badly hurt education and science in UK." |
| Nicole Perets | University College Dublin | |
| Philip Miller | Imperial College | |
| Adan Pinto-Fernandez | University of Oxford | |
| Andrew Naylor | 4D Medicine | |
| Dr Elizabeth Fisher | University of Liverpool | |
| Dr. Geoffrey Akien | Lancaster University, former UG and PG student | |
| Prof. Alexander Forse | Univeristy of Cambridge | |
| Meera Vijayaraghavan | Newcastle University | |
| Dr Nataliia Hulai | University of Liverpool | |
| Philip Cocks - Principal Scientist | Kindeva | I fully support the petition. Great work is being done in the Chemistry department at Nottingham University by a dedicated and hard working team of academic staff. |
| Dr Kathryn Arpino | University of Liverpool | |
| Simon Puttick | AdvanCell | Nottingham School of Chemistry is a globally recognised centre of excellence in chemistry. The value derived from the educational programs and research conducted within the school cannot be underestimated. The level of redundancy being proposed shows a distinct lack of strategic clarity by management and the ramifications will be felt for generations of Nottingham students |
| Dr Paul Hamley CSci CChem MRSC | Ex University of Nottingham | If this goes ahead, it will not be a case of pruning, but severing an artery. Very unwise. |
| Prof. Phil Dyer | Durham University | This is a UK chemistry department that has a hard‑earned international reputation for outstanding research, teaching, and real‑world impact. |
| Dr Thria Alkhakdi | Jeddah University | |
| Joseph Loiselet | Tufts University | |
| Agathe Zobenbuller | University of Warwick | |
| Heather Keasey | University of Liverpool | |
| Nimesh Mistry | University of Leeds | |
| Anurag N | Technical University of Munich | These redundancies will negatively impact the University and, in turn, the UK education system and any potential it holds for the future of scientific research. |
| Mahri Park | GSK | |
| Luke O’Brien | GSK, luke.p.o' | |
| Guy Hill | Trajecture Ltd | The jewel in the crown of science at Nottingham should be preserved at all cost. |
| Ilich Ibarra | UNAM | Please keep the Chemistry Department of Nottingham alive! |
| Maria Gonzalez | Chemical Regulatory Consultant | |
| Matthew Parker | University of Surrey | |
| Mia Huang | Scripps Research | |
| Mahfuzul Hoque | Svante | For the sake of society, do not do this to university |
| Charmaine SY Ng | King's College London | |
| Prof Thierry Visart de Bocarmé | Université libre de Bruxelles | Weakening the resources devoted to chemistry would reduce our collective ability to address the major challenges of today and tomorrow, while also undermining the attractiveness of chemistry for younger generations. Such a decision would harm staff and students, but also society more broadly. |
| Simon Bayly | The Francis Crick Institute | |
| Clare P Grey | University of Cambridge | Chemistry is a core science - undermining it will undermine your whole science base at the University. |
| Dr Holly McErlain | University of Glasgow | |
| Deepnarayan Biswas | Diamond Light Source | |
| Dean Brady | University of the Witwatersrand | The University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry is clearly associated with green and sustainable chemistry - a critical resource for sustainable global development. Chemistry is the central science and is pivotal in the production of goods. With the global population due to rise to around 10 billion, the simultaneous critical need to reduce inequality, and the urgent need to shift to more sustainable technologies to support current and future chemicals, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and materials demand - the need for such a facility is evident. To dim this beacon would be short sighted and frankly unforgivable. |
| Dr. Andy Shannon-Little | Syneos Health (UoN Chemistry Alumnus) | The School that has launched thousands of careers, and corresponding contributions to the Chemical Sciences and beyond - all based on the excellent research staff but, critically, also on the foundation of dedicated and highly proficient teaching staff. Please reconsider. |
| Terry Swarbrick | Self employed | Chemistry is a foundational science, key to the UK economy, essential for an economy to compete and a critical national security discipline. Way too may chemistry depts have closed or been downgraded and under-funded. |
| Rebeca P | IMDEA NANOSCIENCE | |
| Professor Jason Love | University of Edinburgh | |
| George Weaver | Loughborough University | |
| Jesus Prado-Gonjal | Universidad Complutense de Madrid | |
| Javier Carretero Gonzalez | Institute of Polymer Science and Technology - Spanish National Research Council | |
| Professor Cahir O'Kane | University of Cambridge, Dept of Genetics | |
| Professor Andrew D Lawrence | University of Edinburgh | |
| Hareg Tadesse | Corning Incorporated | As an alumnus of the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, I have seen firsthand how the department established itself as a globally respected leader in clean technology, sustainability, green chemistry, and scientific innovation. Its reputation was built through decades of excellence in research, teaching, industrial collaboration, and international scientific leadership. The School’s impact reaches far beyond the UK. Its leadership helped advance Green Chemistry initiatives in Ethiopia and across Africa, building international collaborations, training scientists, and inspiring future generations. The department has also produced outstanding alumni who now serve as leaders across academia, industry, healthcare, energy, and advanced technology worldwide. I had the privilege of studying under Professor Peter Licence, the current Head of the School, whose leadership, vision, and commitment to sustainable chemistry reflect the very best of Nottingham Chemistry. Sir Martyn Poliakoff, although retired, continues to inspire scientists globally through his lasting contributions to green chemistry, scientific outreach, and public engagement. His influence, both scientific and human, remains deeply impactful, including to many of us who viewed him as an informal mentor and source of inspiration throughout our careers. The influence of Nottingham Chemistry extends into classrooms, laboratories, industries, and communities around the world in ways that cannot simply be measured on a balance sheet. I sincerely urge the University to pursue constructive and sustainable alternatives to compulsory redundancies. Once a department of this caliber loses its people, expertise, culture, and global reputation, rebuilding it may take decades, if it can be rebuilt at all. |
| Emil O Munteanu | University of Nottingham | A healthy educational and research institution is based on having varied departments and the staff to support it. Given the amount of amazing research taking place in the School of Chemistry, I am appalled at the choice to remove the very people that will bring in and teach new chemists and researchers. |
| Ava Rogers | University College Dublin | |
| Elena Solana-Madruga | Universidad Complutense de Madrid | |
| Ashpreet digva | University of Nottingham | |
| Ken Lo | SOAS | Chemistry is fundamental to science and science is fundamental to humanity |
| Chong Yan | Jiangsu Guojiao New Materials Co. Ltd. | I’m a graduate from the University of Nottingham. I’m sorry to hear about the redundancy plan. I think there are better options than this. Research and education is one of the core competitiveness of UK. |
| Muskan N | CNR spin italy | This should be not done |
| Professor Mike Porter | University College London | |
| Professor Dewi Lewis | UCL | |
| Aurelio Mateo-Alonso | POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country | |
| Dominic Rowe | Reach Separations | I had a wonderful experience studying at the school of chemistry and I think it deserves the renown it has as one of the leading global institutes for chemistry. I chose to study at nottingham because of the good ranking the chemistry department had. To follow through with these redundancies would tarnish that reputation and lead to a significant loss in appeal to students and may even spell the end of the chemistry department as a whole. This would have a devastating impact on the universities reputation and will inevitably lead to financial ruin. Chemistry stands at the core of everything we do, from food to materials to medicine, and is such a well respected field of study that it would be a shame to have such a negative impact upon it. |
| Tim Claridge | Recursion | Chemistry at Nottingham is too highly regarded in its teaching and research to be dealt such brutal cuts. |
| Jack Rowbotham | University of Manchester | |
| Amelia Dilley | University of Nottingham | |
| Charlotte Sanders | UK Central Laser Facility | |
| Patricia Marr | The Queen’s University of Belfast | This is very sad. Nottingham chemistry is a special place. A mix of creativity, integrity, subject excellence and infectious enthusiasm. My time there has had a lasting influence on me. Chemistry teaching and research are essential. Chemistry creates value and it should be valued. |
| David Witty | Chief Scientific Officer, Sygnature Discovery | |
| Sebastian Pike | University of Warwick | The Department of Chemistry at Nottingham is world leading in many aspects of its research. Disruption on this scale will remove the capability to continue these important and high impact contributions, as well as the ability to provide high-quality education. These drastic cuts will be very damaging not just for Nottingham but for the future of the UK chemistry sector. |
| Professor Guillaume De Bo | University of Manchester | |
| Prof Gernot Klantschnig | University of Bristol | |
| Professor Zoe Pikramenou | University of Birmingham | |
| Roxana Pessoa Cavalcanti | University of Bristol | Solidarity! |
| Timothy Dore | Tufts University | |
| Dr Steven Street | University of Liverpool | Chemistry is a core component of solutions to many of societies most pressing challenges. As an expensive subject, it is always one of the first to be cut when budgets are tight, yet this short-sighted approach only serves to further dismantle one of the UK's few genuinely world-leading industries. It is easy to destroy, but very hard to create. Once gone, it will be very hard if not impossible to rebuild. |
| Shoukath Ali | Jina Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | |
| Lee Clay | University of Bristol | |
| Tajdar Irfani | WMG, University of Warwick | |
| Prof S Umapathy | Indian Institute of Science | Reducing staff in a basic science department like chemistry will undermine the long term research depth and quality leading to poor contribution to social outcomes |
| Andrew Tarzia | University of Birmingham | |
| Julie Herniman | University of Southampton | |
| Rafael Gramage-Doria | University of Rennes CNRS | |
| Dr Daniela Franco Bodek | Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico | International students strongly consider rankings to decide where to apply and bring substantial income to their chosen University. As a former international student in the UK and current mentor of a large pool of candidates who are looking for programs in the UK, I consider it very important that the University of Nottingham maintains its current student-to-staff ratio and strong position in international ranking tables so it remains a strong alternative for bright international talent. |
| Dr Stefan Roesner | Liverpool John Moores University | The Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham is one of the leading chemistry departments in the UK, both in terms of research and teaching. Its research in the field of sustainable technologies is world-leading. Any cuts will have negative effects on the economic and ecologic prospects of our society. |
| Dr Grace A. Lowe | Metal Morph Ltd. | I am writing to support this petition and ask the University of Nottingham to reconsider the cuts to their Chemistry Department. I am asking not just as an alumna who owes most of her current and future successes to the education and training I received from your dedicated staff, but also as a scientist working in sustainable technology and innovation, and as someone born and raised in Nottinghamshire. Chemistry is an intensive practical subject that Nottingham is famous for. It is also vital for a talent pipeline that could fuel innovations and industry across the East Midlands. Chemistry is central to many areas where future UK funding will be focused. Furthermore, practical chemistry skills cannot be taught by competing online-only higher education providers. I am deeply concerned that cutting 30 % of your chemistry staff, when you are cutting ~ 10 %of total staff, will risk the success not only of a university I care deeply about but also a chance for the entire region to benefit from innovation, jobs and funding. |
| Ellis O'Neill | University of Nottingham | |
| Andrew Pike | Newcastle University | |
| Benjamin Horrocks | Newcastle University | |
| Zak Hughes | University of Bradford | |
| Dr Daniel Allwood | Sheffield Hallam University | |
| Dr Thukshan Samarakoon | University of Liverpool | |
| Nick Walker | Newcastle University | Staff expertise and the broader networks of alumni, industry contacts etc can only be grown gradually, over time, though a lot of work by skilled people. It takes many years to build the excellent reputation that Nottingham Chemistry has but it can be lost very quickly- Nottingham needs to reverse course now to avoid becoming a case study in bad executive management. |
| Dr Sianne Schwikkard | Kingston University, London | |
| Raissa Ibraimo Patia | Loughborough University | |
| Stephen Mansell | Heriot-Watt University | |
| Joseph Wright | University of East Anglia | A strong department threatened by a really serious degradation. |
| Professor Deborah Kays | Cardiff University | |
| Raj Pandya | University of Warwick | |
| Dr Helen Betts | Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | |
| Benjamin Weare | University of Nottingham | |
| Sam Maynard | Former UoN Natural Sciences student | |
| Dr Jack Humby MRSC CSci MSci | British Antarctic Survey | |
| Leah Haworth | University of Strathclyde | |
| Isabelle Dusek | University of Nottingham | |
| Lorenzo Di Michele | University of Cambridge | |
| Hannah Flint | Sygnature Discovery | |
| Hannah Priest | The Nottingham Emmanuel School | We are saddened to hear about the proposed cuts. Our growing partnership with the UON chemistry department has strengthened the experience our A-level chemistry students experience. We have been sending more students to University to study chemistry because of their experiences at the University. Our students still talk about how interesting and impressive the Christmas lecture was on batteries. I hope that the cuts are as minimal as possible to keep the team able to do vital outreach for our future chemists! |
| Alexandre Jolibois | Sygnature Discovery | |
| Dr James Naughton | University of Nottingham Alumnus, University of York Alumnus | As an alumnus of the University of Nottingham, I am deeply saddened and concerned by the proposed compulsory redundancies within the School of Chemistry. Nottingham has long been a beacon of learning, scientific excellence, and opportunity, not only within the East Midlands but across the United Kingdom and internationally. Its reputation has been built over generations by dedicated staff whose teaching, research, and innovation have helped establish the University as one of the leading centres for chemical sciences. As a science teacher working in the East Midlands, I see first-hand the impact that the University’s School of Chemistry has on young people throughout our region. The department inspires future scientists, trains highly skilled graduates, and provides a pathway for talented students from diverse backgrounds to contribute to society through science, healthcare, engineering, and industry. Whilst I recognise the financial challenges currently facing universities across the sector, I believe there is both a scientific and a moral imperative to protect the School of Chemistry. At a time when the United Kingdom faces significant challenges in areas such as sustainable energy, climate change, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and technological innovation, reducing capacity within a leading chemistry department sends entirely the wrong message about the value we place on scientific education and research. There is also a moral responsibility to the young people of the East Midlands. Many students in our schools look to the University of Nottingham as an aspirational institution close to home, one that demonstrates that world-class scientific education is accessible within our region. Weakening a department of such significance risks diminishing opportunities for future generations and undermining the region’s long-standing contribution to scientific advancement. I therefore urge the University to reconsider these proposals, to engage meaningfully with staff and stakeholders, and to seek alternative solutions that preserve the expertise, educational excellence, and research strength that have made the School of Chemistry such an important asset to the University, the East Midlands, and the wider scientific community. |
| Warren Keene | Sygnature Discovery | Redundancies on this scale will make it impossible for the University to carry on doing cutting edge research. |
| Dr Saara Qazi | Chilwell School | The chemistry department at the university is an excellent provider to the University students, with many students choosing to come here due to the Schools reputation. It also runs a course that helps undergraduates get into teaching, and in secondary education we are desperately short of well educated and well trained professionals. |
| Ben Walton | National C of E Academy | The chemistry department has provided valuable enrichment experiences for our students and has enabled them to further their love of science in many different ways. I am grateful for the work that they have put in to outreach, and very saddened to see that this does not seem to have been valued. |
| Kieron Heath MRSC PGCE BSc | Nottingham High School | As a graduate of the University of Nottingham School of Chemistry I am very aware of the national and global impact and reputation of the institution. I also strongly value the partnership opportunities provided by the School of Chemistry to local schools, including my own students. It would be a huge shame to diminish the impact and legacy of the School of Chemistry by pursuing the proposed cuts. |
| Ulupi Barnett | Derby Moor Spencer Academy | |
| Helen Hobbs | Nottingham Emmanuel School | |
| Jennifer Marchant | Aldercar High School | As a local chemistry teacher who has taken students to events put on by the school of chemistry and workshops organised by the amazing Sam Tang over the past two decades, as well as recommending students to apply for chemistry degrees at the department due to the amazing level of support and research present, I am saddened to hear that the department is included in the reviews for cuts. How can the UK compete globally in terms of STEM subjects when major universities are making cuts in the very departments crucial for future research? Yes, the sciences are expensive, chemistry possibly the most of them all, but the life and world-altering developments and discoveries that come out of the research there are crucial. A short term cost-cut here would risk massive long term losses. As a society and as a country looking to build on not lose its reputation for STEM excellence this seems very short-sighted. Additionally, many students locally look to Nottingham as a way to get world-class education whilst still living at home; many of the most deprived communities locally are in reach of the university and it provides a massive hope for our more able students who do not have the luxury of money allowing them to go to other prestigious institutions. Limiting the ability of the department limits the ability of many students locally in the long run. We need local, high class graduates across the sciences for so many local industries and companies. Please reconsider. |
| Ashik Choudhury | Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology | |
| Rahaf Madi | University of Nottingham Alumni | |
| Christopher Rockley | Sygnature Discovery | Reverse the proposed job cuts. |
| Hannah Scothern | Sygnature Discovery | |
| Alice King | Alchemy Medical Writing | |
| Elizabeth Wheeldon | University of York | |
| Leo Pulham | Uni of Nottingham | |
| Katy Grout | Royal Society of Chemistry | |
| Iradwikanari Waluyo | Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA | |
| Maya Gibson | University of Nottingham | |
| Maisie Payne | University of Nottingham | |
| Abigail Goodchild-Maguire | University of Nottingham | |
| Selina Ambrose | Promethean Particles Ltd. | |
| Matthew Bird | Benchmark Mineral Intelligence | |
| Professor Edwin Constable | University of Basel | |
| Bradley Wakefield | Allestree Woodlands School | |
| David Sankey | Allestree Woodlands School | |
| Tuqa Gharaibeh | iPARK | |
| Nam Trong Nguyen | Illumina Cambridge | |
| Prof. Ross Milton | University of Geneva | |
| Martin Heeney | KAUST | |
| Kevin Carr CChem MRSC PGCE | Waddesdon CE School | |
| Maria Paz Muñoz | Lancaster University | |
| Nick Fletcher | Lancaster University | |
| Joanne Griffiths | Oakham School | We are very disappointed to hear about the plans and feel concerned that the fantastic outreach activities organised and run by Sam Tang and her colleagues will now be at serious risk. Building enthusiasm for Chemistry in the next generation is essential for the future and the experience of visiting the impressive teaching labs at Nottingham University has long been important for aspiring scientists. |
| Prof Richard Brown | University of Southampton | |
| John Fielden | Lancaster University | |
| Jim Tucker | University of Birmingham | |
| Sarah Horswell | University of Birmingham | |
| Dr Jamie H. Docherty | Lancaster University | Nottingham Chemistry has taken decades to build and could be irreparably damaged in a single budget cycle. A university does not cut its way to excellence by dismantling one of the departments that gives it credibility. |
| Professor Serena Cussen | University College Dublin | |
| Dr Rachel Platel | Lancaster University | |
| Rachael Greenhalgh | University of Southampton | |
| Alexandra Gibbs | University of St Andrews | |
| Prof F Stefan Tautz, PhD | Forschungszentrum Jülich | |
| Michael Green | Almac | University of Nottingham has been a pioneer in the chemical sciences. As an alumni from the University of Nottingham, I can say first hand that the acedemic staff are vital teachers for the next generation of scientists. The University of Nottingham school of Chemistry is one of the best for teaching quality and pioneering research. You are signing the death warrant of Nottingham school of Chemistry by making these cuts. Perhaps you should be looking at other ways to make money and attract investment other than government funding by using the excellent staff you already have. Making these cuts is certainly not the way to go. |
| Dr Alexandre Pradal | Sorbonne Université | I used to do postdoctoral studies at the School of Chemistry of the University of Nottingham. It is sad to hear about these redundancies. Should it be done, the University would for sure lose its reputation worldwide. Please reconsider. |
| Stuart Cantrill | UCLA alumnus | |
| Iain Barlow | OXECO | |
| James Wright | University of Surrey | |
| Francesca Slack | Secondary Education Sector | |
| Vilius Franckevicius | Lancaster University | Solidarity!! |
| Henry Davis | University of Manchester | I do not think this is a good idea - the university will lose students as there are not as many academics, and thus, modules. |
| R. Thomas Simons | Wright State University | |
| Prof. Jonathan Rochford | University of Massachusetts Boston | I strongly support this open letter and stand in solidarity with academic peers, students, and staff at the University of Nottingham Dept. of Chemistry. A department with such a distinguished history and global impact should be strengthened—not diminished. These proposed cuts guarantee lasting damage to the university's research, education, and its broader scientific community. I strongly urge the university administration to reflect on the consequences of their proposal and to reconsider their stance. |
| Christopher Pask | University of Leeds | |
| Prof. Cormac McGuinness | Trinity College Dublin | |
| Samuel Horsewill | University of Bath | |
| Andreas Almqvist | Luleå University of Technology | Rethink. Now. |
| Josh Smith | University of Nottingham | |
| Zelalemawee Asheber | University of Oxford | |
| Xiao Hua | Lancaster University | |
| Sarah Jackson Dousset | Ex Nottingham university | |
| Cathy Lucas | University of Manchester | Awful news and my full support to the staff as a PhD alumni of the department |
| David Grills (Senior Chemist) | Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA) | I was saddened to hear about the proposed cuts to the School of Chemistry. A thriving Chemistry Department is essential for a top-class research university, and Nottingham is one of the best in the world. I wouldn't be where I am today without the excellent teaching and mentorship I received in Nottingham's School of Chemistry back in the 1990s. I urge the University administration to reconsider the proposed cuts, which will have a devastating and long lasting impact. |
| Dr Harry Morgan | University of Manchester | Chemistry education is a pillar of UK science and technology |
| Eldin Fahmy | University of Bristol | |
| Neel Joshi | Tufts University | |
| Nicholas J Warren | University of Sheffield | |
| Zoe Smallwood | University of Oxford | |
| Katie Savage | University of Nottingham | |
| Daniel Rooney | University of Nottingham |